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The English Bible 

Being a Book of Selections 
from the King James Version 


Edited, with Introduction and Explanatory Notes, 

by 

WILBUR OWEN SYPHERD 

Professor of English in the 
University of Delaware 


Published by' 

Craftsmen §f Kells 
Newark Delaware 
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Foreword 

To make some of the best parts of a great old book more 
readable and more understandable to the modern reader is the 
purpose of this book of Selections from the King James 
Version of the English Bible. The basis of selection is the 
relative significance of the stories, songs, essays, letters of the 
Bible as literature and in literature. Every educated person, 
no matter of what religious belief, should know at least those 
parts of the English Bible which either have a special literary 
value in themselves or have in one form or another exercised 
a marked influence on English literature. As much as possi- 
ble of such material is here presented. 

In the preparation of this book of selections, the editor 
has used freely the texts and discussions of Biblical scholars. 
Whatever originality may inhere in the present work lies in 
the form in which these selections appear. The language of 
the King James Version has been strictly preserved, the Ox- 
ford University Press text, collated with the Cambridge Uni- 
versity Press reprint of the first issue of the Authorized Ver- 
sion of 1611, being used. An attempt has been made to pre- 
sent these parts of the Bible in the form of a modern book of 
poetry and prose, with marginal and center headings to assist 
in an easy comprehension of the subject matter on the part of 
students in school and college and of the general reader in the 
home. The brief Explanatory Notes which are attached to 
some of the selections are designed to assist in an intelligent 


reading of the book. In giving information as to the composi- 
tion, structure, and nature of the subject matter of these parts 
of the Bible, the editor has endeavoured conscientiously to 
present what seem to be the generally accepted results of 
modern Biblical scholarship. Absolute accuracy of fact is of 
course not to be expected ; a statement of the possibilities, or 
probabilities, only may be ventured. In no instance here has 
the editor hazarded an opinion save as to what a piece of writ- 
ing may mean to us today. For convenience of reference to 
the complete Bible, the conventional order of the sixty-six 
books has been followed and the chapter numbers retained. 

I wish to acknowledge my indebtedness, general as such 
an acknowledgment must necessarily be, to many books in 
the broad field of Biblical study. A selected list of these books 
is printed in Appendix E. Professor Elihu Grant has had the 
kindness to read the manuscript of the Introduction, the Ex- 
planatory Notes, and the Appendices. Dr. Finley M. K. Foster 
has followed the work from the preliminary arrangement of 
the text and the final preparation of the manuscript through 
to the press proof. To his sympathetic interest, his keen 
criticism, especially of the form of the poetic sections, and his 
faithful reading of the proof, the book owes much of whatever 
merit it may possess. My sincere gratitude is due to other 
friends who have given hearty encouragement to the prose- 
cution of the work, and to the Publishers, who have cooperated 
most helpfully in creating an adequate material form for sub- 
ject matter of such lofty significance. 


ii 


Purnell Hall 
July 11,1921 


W. 0. s. 


Contents 


Foreword 

Introduction 

THE OLD TESTAMENT 


Page 

Genesis 17 

The Story of the Creation 20 

The Fall of Man 24 

The Story of- Cain and Abel 26 

The Flood 28 

The Confusion of Tongues 34 

The Story of Abraham and Isaac 35 

Jacob’s Deception of Isaac 36 

The Story of Jacob’s Journey 39 

The Story of Joseph and His Brethren 41 

Exodus 71 

The Bondage of the Israelites in Egypt 71 

Moses Adopted by Pharaoh’s Daughter 71 

The Plagues 72 

The Israelites Go Out of Egypt 85 

The Song of Moses 88 

The Ten Commandments 90 

Aaron and the Golden Calf 91 

Numbers 95 

The Story of Balaam 95 

Deuteronomy 104 

The Song of Moses 104 

The Book of Joshua 109 

The Siege of Jericho 109 

iii 


Page 

The Book of Judges 111 

The Song of Deborah m 

Jotham’s Parable 

Jephthah’s Rash Vow 116 

The Story of Samson H? 

The Book of Ruth 125 

The First Book of Samuel 133 

David Before Saul 133 

David and Goliath 134 

Saul and the Witch of Endor 137 

The Second Book of Samuel 140 

The Lament of David 140 

David and Uriah, and Nathan’s Parable 141 

The First Book of the Kings 145 

The Story of Solomon 145 

The Story of Elijah 149 

The Second Book of the Kings 154 

The Story of Elijah (Continued) 154 

The Story of Naaman the Leper 155 

The Second Book of the Chronicles 159 

Athaliah’s Usurpation and Death 159 

The Book of Esther 161 

The Book of Job 177 

The Book of Psalms 251 

Numbers 1, 6, 8, 19, 23, 24, 31, 32, 38, 42, 46, 51, 63, 67, 90, 92, 

95, 96, 100, 102, 103, 120-134, 137, 139, 143, 149, and 150 

The Proverbs 288 

Chapters 1, 3, 8, 15, 22, and 31 vs. 10-31 

Ecclesiastes 302 

Chapters 1 and 9-12, omitting vs. 22 

The Song of Solomon 307 

Chapters 1 and 2 

The Book of the Prophet Isaiah 311 

The Rebellion of Judah 312 

The Coming of the Lord to Judah 315 


IV 


Page 

The Call of the Prophet 317 

The Destruction of the Enemies of the Church 318 

The Flourishing of the Kingdom of the Lord 320 

The Glory and the Power of the Lord 322 

The Redemption of Jerusalem 325 

Exhortation to Belief 329 

The Glory of the Lord in Zion 330 

The Redemption of the People of Israel 333 

The Glory of Jerusalem 339 

The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah 343 

The Clay and the Potter 343 

The Judgment of Babylon 345 

The Book of the Prophet Ezekiel 357 

The Valley of Dry Bones 357 

The Book of Daniel 359 

The Story of Nebuchadnezzar 359 

The Story of Belshazzar 369 

Daniel in the Den of Lions 372 

Amos 375 

Jonah 394 

THE NEW TESTAMENT 

The Gospel According to St. Matthew 399 

The Sermon on the Mount 399 

The Wise and the Foolish Virgins 406 

The Parable of the Talents 407 

The Gospel According to St. Mark 409 

Jesus’ Prediction of Coming Changes 409 

The Gospel According to St. Luke 412 

The Birth and Childhood of Jesus 412 

The Early Ministry of Jesus 424 

The Journey to Jerusalem 441 

Jesus in Jerusalem 466 

The Passion and the Resurrection of Jesus 472 

The Gospel According to St. John 483 

The Testimony of John 483 

Jesus Comforts His Disciples 484 


v 


Page 

The Acts of the Apostles 488 

The Preaching of Paul at Athens 488 

Paul before Festus and Agrippa 489 

The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans 494 

Exhortation to the Romans 494 

The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians 498 
Praise of Charity 498 

The Resurrection of the Dead 499 

The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Timothy 503 

The Epistle of Paul to Philemon 508 

The Revelation of St. John the Divine 510 

Christ Appears to John in a Vision 510 

The Six Seals 511 

The Resurrection and the New Jerusalem 513 

The Apocrypha 519 

Judith 

Chapter 8, vs. 4-34 and Chapters 9-13 
The Song of the Three Children 

Appendices 531 

A The Books of the Bible, including the Apocrypha 
B An Approximate Chronological Outline of Biblical History 
and Literature 

C The King James (Protestant) Version of the Bible and 
the Douai (Roman Catholic) Version of the Bible 
Compared 

D A Specimen of the First Issue of the 1611 Version 
E A Selected Bibliography on The Bible as Literature 

An Index of Proper Names and Subjects 


545 


^Time’s wheel runs hack or stops: Potter 
and clay endure.” 


Introduction 


The English Bible— What it is. When we speak of the 
English Bible or of the Bible as the Greatest Monument of 
English Literature, we refer to one of the many translations 
which have been made from time to time of the Sacred 
Scriptures of the Hebrews and the additional writings of the 
early Christians which we commonly call the New Testament. 
It is the translation known variously as the “Authorized 
Version’' or the “King James Version” or the “Version of 
1611.” Of such beauty and strength was this translation into 
English in 1611, that the Book is recognized as a part of our 
literature, as the greatest part of the literature which has 
given to the world the enduring works of Shakspere and 
Milton and Tennyson. Here is the most astounding phenom- 
enon of literature — that a book which records the legends, the 
history, and the songs, and incorporates the religious belief 
of one people or nation should not only be accepted as the book 
of religion of another but also in a translation should be 
recognized as a masterpiece of its literature. 

History of Versions or Translations of the Bible. A brief 
sketch of the translations of the Bible will show the ancestry 
of the King James Version. The original languages of the 
Bible were the Hebrew and the Greek. The Latin language 
was the great medium through which the teachings of the 
sacred scriptures were directly or indirectly transmitted to 
Christians of most other races than the Jews. The Old Testa- 
ment was written originally in Hebrew. In its final form, that 
sanctioned by the Council of Jamnia in 90 A. D., the Hebrew 

3 


Bible consisted of three main divisions: (1) The Law, in- 
cluding Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteron- 
omy; (2) The Prophets, including Joshua, Judges, Samuel 
(1 and 2), Kings (1 and 2), Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and 
the Twelve (the so-called Minor Prophets) ; and (3) The 
Writings, a miscellaneous collection, including the Psalms, 
Proverbs, Job, Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesi- 
astes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, and Chronicles (1 and 
2). Beginning with the third century B. C., this Hebrew Old 
Testament was gradually translated into Greek, and a number 
of writings (since known as the Apocrypha), most of which 
were composed originally in Greek, the few others in Hebrew, 
were added to the collection. The order of the books was also 
changed. The resultant version when completed was known 
as the Septuagint, this title being connected with the tradition 
that the translation was made by seventy scholars in 
Alexandria about 275 B. C. 

The writings of the New Testament were done in Greek 
within a century after the ministry of Jesus. These books 
in Greek and the books of the Greek Septuagint were trans- 
lated into Latin as early as the second century, A. D., this 
translation being known as the Old Latin Version. At the 
close of the fourth century, A. D., came the great Latin 
version, the translation made by Jerome. The Latin Bible 
sanctioned by the Roman church in 1546 and known there- 
after as the Vulgate and still used in the Roman Catholic 
Church, is essentially this translation. It represents Jerome's 
translation of the canonical books of the Old Testament from 
the Hebrew; the Old Latin translation of the so-called 
Apocryphal books; and Jerome's revision of the Old Latin 
translation of the writings of the New Testament on the basis 
of the original Greek. The version of the Psalms which 


4 


appears in the Vulgate is that made by Jerome from the Old 
Latin on the basis of the Greek, and is known as the Galliean 
Psalter. Of the Apocrypha, Jerome translated Judith, Tobit, 
and the additions to Daniel from the Hebrew. It is to be 
borne in mind, of course, that throughout the Middle Ages, 
versions of the Bible existed only in manuscript (the first 
printed Bible was the so-called Mazarin Bible, a Latin Bible 
issued by Gutenberg in 1456). Copies of the Bible were 
therefore incomplete; any two Bibles would usually include 
different translations of some of the books; and different 
Bibles would likewise represent slightly different compilations. 
There existed, however, general uniformity. And the Vulgate 
of the Council of Trent may be said to be the version generally 
used through the Middle Ages. 

The first translation of the Bible in English was the 
Wycliffe Bible, translated between 1380 and 1384, from the 
Latin Vulgate by John Wycliffe and several associates. 
Strange to say, this translation had little if any influence on 
the Bible translations of the sixteenth century. The great 
period of Bible translation began with W. Tindale, who 
brought out his New Testament in 1525, using in addition 
to the original Greek the Vulgate and the work of Luther and 
Erasmus. Other translations of this period were: Cover- 
dale's Bible, printed in 1535, the first complete printed Bible 
in English; the Great Bible, 1539; the Genevan Bible, 1560; 
the Bishops' Bible, 1568; the Rheims New Testament, 1582, 
and the Douai Old Testament, 1609-10, the Roman Catholic 
Version. At the close of the period came the King James 
Version, 1611, the version which still holds its place as the 
greatest of all the translations. The idea of this translation 
was broached at the Hampton Court Conference in 1604. It 
was done under the joint authorization of church and state, 


5 


the Bishops and King Janies. The forty-seven translators 
began their work in 1607 and finished in 1611. The Bishops' 
Bible was the basis of the translation. The original sources, 
Hebrew and Greek, and the Latin, Genevan, and other versions 
were used. The English Revision of the version of 1611 was 
published in 1885; the American Revised Version in 1901. 

Contents. The English Bible is a collection of sixty-six 
books (excluding the Apocrypha), presenting to us in the 
Old Testament the history, literature, and religion of the 
Hebrews, and in both the Old Testament and the New Testa- 
ment the writings considered sacred by the Christian Church. 
For purposes of literary study, the books of the Old Testament 
may be grouped as follows : 

1 Historical Narrative: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, 
Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 
1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah 

2 Prophetic Writings: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, 
Daniel, (apocalypse or historical narrative), the Minor 
Prophets (The Twelve) 

3 Poetry: Psalms, Song of Songs, Lamentations 

4 Books of Wisdom: Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes 

5 Short Stories: Ruth, Esther, Jonah (one of the 
Minor Prophets) 

The books of the New Testament fall into the following 
groups : 

1 Four Lives of Christ : Matthew, Mark, Luke, John 

2 The Acts of the Apostles 

3 A Series of Fourteen Letters, all of which except the 


6 


Epistle to the Hebrews are commonly ascribed to St. Paul 
and hence are known as the Pauline Epistles. Of the thirteen 
Pauline Epistles, nine are addressed to churches and four 
to individuals. 

4 A Series of Seven Letters, called the General Epistles, 
the authors of which are unknown 

5 The Revelation, a series of seven visions, with a Pro- 
logue and an Epilogue, predicting through the use of symbols 
the destruction of the enemies of God and the final blessedness 
of the faithful in the New Jerusalem 

The Apocrypha is a miscellaneous collection of writings 
accepted by the Church of England as books to be read “for 
example of life and instruction of manners * * * but 

not to establish any doctrine.” These writings are rejected 
entirely by many Protestants and do not appear in our 
ordinary editions of the English Bible. With the exception 
of First [Third] Esdras, Second [Fourth] Esdras, and the 
Prayer of Manasses, these books appear as canonical parts of 
the Roman Catholic Bible (the Latin Vulgate and the Douai 
versions). The fourteen books of the Apocrypha according to 
the King James version, are: 1 [3] Esdras, 2 [4] Esdras, 
Tobit, Judith, Additional Chapters to Esther, The Wisdom of 
Solomon, Ecclesiasticus, Baruch, The Story of Susanna (ad- 
dition to Daniel), The Song of the Three Children (addition 
to Daniel), The Story of Bel and the Dragon (addition to 
Daniel), The Prayer of Manasses, 1 Maccabees, and 2 
Maccabees. 

Composition. The composition of the books of the Bible 
covered a period of about 1000 years, and represented the 
work of many men, the names even of not a few of whom we 
do not know. Approximately between the years 900 B. C. and 


7 


100 A. D., the material of the Old Testament, the New Testa- 
ment, and the Apocrypha took literary form; that is, these 
stories, histories, songs, words of wisdom, biographical data, 
epistles, etc., were recorded, collected, compiled, composed. 
Before 1200, the literature of the Hebrews existed probably in 
oral tradition only. Between the twelfth century and the 
eighth century, B. C., were committed to writing the songs, 
traditions, history, laws, which in one form or another find 
their place in the Bible as we now have it. But it is not until 
the middle of the eighth century that we find in the documents 
that have been preserved anything like what we know as a 
book with a definite author and a definite time of composition. 
The Book of Amos the Prophet, dating about 750 B. C., is the 
first complete book of Hebrew Literature that has come down 
to us. In the same century are placed Hosea, the First Isaiah, 
and Micah. A century or more later come Jeremiah and 
Ezekiel and the Second Isaiah. Also in the sixth century, the 
period of the Exile, are to be assigned Judges, Samuel, and 
Kings, and is probably to be placed the Book of Job. In the 
fifth century, belong Ruth and Ecclesiastes, and the completed 
Hexateuch, the first six books of the Bible, Genesis, Exodus, 
Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Joshua — a compila- 
tion from many sources, the origin of which may be dated 
back to 900 B. C. or earlier. The collection of the Psalms and 
of the Proverbs in their present form dates from the fifth to 
the third century B. C- Between 400 and 300 B. C., may be 
placed the Song of Songs, Esther, Chronicles, and Ezra- 
Nehemiah. In the second century, the Book of Daniel was 
written, and in the last two centuries B. C., belong most of the 
books of the Apocrypha. The books of the New Testament 
were composed in the second half of the first century A. D., 
some of them possibly going over to the second century, in 
which century the books assumed their final form. This brief 


8 


sketch indicates for many of the writings of the Old Testa- 
ment only approximate dates ; but it should serve as a general 
view of the probabilities of what are at best often insoluble 
problems as to authors, times of composition, and methods of 
handling materials. 

The Bible as Literature. Three centuries and more have 
passed since the King James Version of the Bible first came 
into the hands of the people; and today it holds the pre- 
eminent position, from which even the more accurate Revised 
Version has failed to dislodge it, of the greatest of our literary 
classics. It has become a part of our great heritage of books 
which through the centuries have expressed in a lasting 
beautiful form the best thoughts and the deepest emotions of 
the English race. Worthy as the Bible has always been as a 
book of religion, it is only in the language of two Germanic 
peoples that it has attained a form and exerted an influence 
which have justified its being called a great book of literature. 
The Bible of Luther and the King James Version are master- 
pieces of literature. Moreover, our King James Version did 
not at once with its publication in 1611 spring into this posi- 
tion ; possibly a century elapsed before by the common consent 
and the universal suffrage of English speaking people, this 
book was felt and acclaimed as a vital part of our literary 
heritage. 

How is this King James Version to be accounted for? 
What is to be said for this among the many translations or 
versions of the Bible which have come down to us through 
the ages ? What were the characteristics of the period of this 
translation which helped to determine its distinguished 
literary form? And what are the nature of the contents, the 
qualities of the style, and the characteristics of its influence 


9 


which unite to make this book of an alien race a treasure of 
our native literature? To these questions, a most general 
answer only may here be given. 

The King James Version of the Bible appeared in 1611, 
in what has been called the Elizabethan Age of English litera- 
ture, and in what may properly be called the Puritan Age of 
Religious History. The time had not yet yielded to the influ- 
ences which later in religion were manifested in the narrow- 
ness, the prejudices, the bigotry of the Puritan of the Crom- 
wellian age, nor to the disintegrating forces which in literature 
with one or two notable exceptions resulted in what I designate 
with whatever reservations should be made the comparative 
littleness of the writers of the Jacobean and Carolean ages. 
The translators of the King James Version had inherited from 
the century which had just closed the glorious traditions of 
the Bible translations from Tindale to the Genevan and Douai 
scholars ; and they lived in an atmosphere which breathed of 
the integrity of Elizabethan national life. On their shoulders 
had fallen the mantles of the great Elizabethans who could 
die nobly for their religion or who could express nobly in 
literature the aspirations, the ideas, the ideals which lay 
deep in the national consciousness. They lived at the close of 
a long period of development .which gave us Shakspere and 
Bacon, Raleigh and Hooker, Latimer and Knox. A great age 
produced a great book — therein lies the secret of the King 
James Version. 

The varied contents of this book illustrate masterfully 
almost every kind of literary composition. Written all to one 
end, to record a religion, the best of these writings through 
the subtle alchemy of the finest kind of inspiration succeed 
unconsciously in constituting a literature. The appeal as reli- 


10 


gion is strengthened by the appeal as literature. Here is his- 
torical narrative dealing with the fortunes of a favored people 
which shades off into pure story; foretelling and forthtelling 
of present and future relations between God and his people 
which rises to the dignity of elegy and oratory — impassioned 
discourse; praise of the wonders of Jehovah which breathes 
of the essence of pure poetry; discourse of wise men which 
attains the dignity and the beauty of the monologue of poetic 
drama ; biography of the Christ which in its translated form 
displays the literary beauties of classic English prose; letter 
writing which by its universality of appeal deserves its place 
in the world's literature. The specific forms which this great 
literature comprises have often been referred to. We find the 
war song, the love song, the national hymn, the lament, drama, 
rhapsody, history, the essay, the oration, the parable, the 
fable, the epigram, story, biography, letters, sermons, visions 
— a whole varied literature in one book, a book of many books 
unified in material, style, and underlying appeal. 

The style of the King James Version, the literary form 
which these sacred writings finally assumed in this English 
translation, sets this book apart from all other books of our 
native literature. Biblical style is in the ultimate analysis a 
unique style. Indeed, it yields its secret only partly to literary 
judgment. What Matthew Arnold said of the “grand style" 
applies justly to the style of the Bible — “One may say of it 
(the grand style) as is said of faith: 'One must feel it in order 
to know what it is.' ” But in so far as it is possible to separate 
the manner from the matter, the way of saying a thing from 
the thing itself, the beauty and strength of the expression 
from the beauty and strength of the thing expressed, earnest 
students have succeeded in finding the proper terms for the 
distinguishing characteristics of Biblical style. These char- 


11 


acteristics appear of course in other pieces of literature ; they 
attain their excellence, their uniqueness in the King James 
Version of the Bible. This uniqueness of style may be said to 
rest on its double commanding position : it approaches closest 
to the simple, homely, natural expression of the average man, 
if such a being may be thought of in real experience ; and it 
rises nearest to the impassioned lofty utterance of man in his 
moments of deepest spiritual excitement. The thought is 
conveyed to us in short words of native stock; the emotional 
qualities of the style are fundamentally its homeliness, na- 
turalness, earnestness ; to these underlying qualities are 
attached its directness and its concreteness; pervading the 
whole is the distinguishing trait of simplicity ; and crowning 
the structure is the lofty rhythm which elevates the style to 
the supreme position in expression by means of human speech. 

This is the Bible — this is the version of the sacred scrip- 
tures of the Christian religion — which is today a part of Eng- 
lish Literature. Apart from details of substance and style, 
material and expression, those things which we think of as 
determining the literary quality of a book, its right to a place 
in a nation’s literature, what is the fundamental characteris- 
tic of this great book which explains its persistent and power- 
ful influence over English-speaking men and women and its 
resultant commanding position in English literature? The 
answer will involve the merging of the conception of a single 
version, superb as it may be, into the conception of a book in 
many versions, the conception of the English Bible as a great 
book of life. The English Bible exerts its continued influence 
in literature and life because it presents in a form which 
appeals to man’s sense of overpowering beauty in expression, 
through terms of concrete human experience, a philosophy of 
life, a religion, a conception of man’s place in the universe and 


12 


of his relation to a higher power which satisfies the universal 
longing of mankind for an explanation of the mystery of 
existence. A great book in any literature is a book which 
by virtue of its author's lofty imagination, sympathetic under- 
standing, and noble style presents with a universal appeal the 
deepest problems of life and expresses the ideals and ideas 
which reflect the permanent essentials of the national genius. 
Among such books in English literature, the Bible stands 
supreme. 



The Old Testament 
































# 



GENESIS 


THE HISTORICAL BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT 

The historical books of the Old Testament fall into two divisions: 
(1) Genesis to Second Kings, including Ruth, comprising the period from 
the creation to B. C. 562; (2) First and Second Chronicles, Ezra and 
Nehemiah, comprising the period from the creation to B. C. 432. ‘‘Though 
differing from each other materially in scope and manner of treatment, 
these two series are nevertheless both constructed upon a similar plan; 
no entire book in either series consists of a single, original work; but 
older writings, or sources, have been combined by a compiler in such a 
manner that the points of juncture are often plainly discernible, and the 
sources are in consequence capable of being separated from one another. 
The authors of the Hebrew historical books — except the shortest, as Ruth 
and Esther — do not, as a modern historian would do, rewrite the matter 
in their own language; they excerpt from the sources at their disposal 
such passages as are suitable to their purpose, and incorporate them in 
their work, sometimes adding matter of their own, but often (as it 
seems) introducing only such modifications of form as are necessary for 
the purpose of fitting them together, or accommodating them to their 
plan. The Hebrew historiographer, as we know him, is essentially a com- 
piler or arranger of pre-existing documents, he is not himself an original 
author.” 1 

Contents of the Books. Genesis, the first volume into which the 
material of the Pentateuch was divided for the sake of convenience, tells 
of the Creation of the world and of man, the Fall, Cain and Abel, the 
Flood, the Tower of Babel, Abraham and Isaac, Jacob and Esau, and the 
life of Joseph in Egypt. Exodus, the second volume, tells of the multi- 
plication of the descendants of Jacob in Egypt, the Oppression, the birth 
and early years of Moses, the Ten Plagues, the Departure from Egypt, 
the Passage of the Red Sea, the March to Sinai, the Giving of the Law, 

1 Driver, An Introduction to the Literature of the Old Testament , 
pp. 4, 5 


17 


the Golden Calf, and the Construction and Erection of the Tabernacle. 
Leviticus, the third volume, tells of the Ritual of the five principal offer- 
ings, the establishment of the Priesthood of Aaron and his sons, Laws 
relating to Uncleanness and Purification and Laws relating to Social 
Morality and to the priesthood and sacrifice. Numbers, the fourth 
volume, relates the Laws and Regulations given at Sinai in. regard 
to the Levites, the traditions of the Wilderness Period, and the 
experience of the Hebrew tribes in their wanderings from Kadesh to 
the Plains of Moab. Deuteronomy, the fifth volume, contains several 
addresses professedly delivered by Moses to the Israelites in the land of 
Moab on the eve of their entrance into Palestine, the Book of the Law, 
a declaration of the blessings which will follow obedience to the Law, 
two poems — The Song of Moses and the Blessing of Moses — and an 
account of the death of Moses. 

Joshua, a book so closely connected with the Pentateuch as to justify 
its being added to this material to form a six-volume collection called 
the Hexateuch, relates events in the history of Israel from the death of 
Moses to the death of Joshua himself. These events comprise the Con- 
quest of Canaan, including the Siege and Destruction of Jericho, and 
the Division of the Land. Judges continues the history of Israel from 
the death of Joshua to the days of Samuel, and comprises the well- 
known stories of Gideon, Jephthah and his Daughter, Deborah and 
Barak (including the Song of Deborah), Jotham (including his Parable), 
and Samson. 

The Book of Samuel, Part I and Part II, relates the early life and 
judgeship of Samuel, the establishment of the monarchy, and the reigns 
of Saul and David, including the Song of Hannah, the stories of David’s 
curing Saul of the evil spirit, David and Goliath, and Saul and the Witch 
of Endor, David’s Lament for Jonathan, and Nathan’s rebuke of David. 
The Book of Kings, Part I and Part II, relates the Death of David; the 
Reign of Solomon, including the building of the Temple and the visit of 
the Queen of Sheba; the Reigns of the succeeding Kings, including the 
Lives of Elijah and Elisha, the Usurpation of Athaliah, the Story of 
Naboth’s Vineyard, the Fall of Samaria and the Destruction of Jerusalem. 

The Book of Chronicles, Part I and Part II, and the Books of Ezra 
and Nehemiah comprise a second series of histories, duplicating for the 
most part the earlier historical documents — Genesis to Kings. These 
books treat the period from Adam to the second visit of Nehemiah to 
Jerusalem, B. C. 432. The author or authors of these writings are con- 
cerned with giving a history of Judah, with special reference to the insti- 


18 


tutions connected with the Temple, under the Monarchy and after the 
restoration. 

The Pentateuch. The five books of the Bible which are known as 
the Pentateuch, and sometimes as the “Law of Moses” or the “Book of 
the Law of Moses,” were regarded as a unit, as a collection of writings 
in which Moses had recorded the laws which Jewish people must obey 
if they wished to serve Jehovah rightly. “The Pentateuch is Mosaic as 
the final product of a process which owed its first impulse, its direction 
and character to Moses.” 1 

These books were written at different times by different writers. 
They represented to the Jews authoritative laws. The editors of the 
Pentateuch, as we now substantially have it, strove to retain the actual 
words of the works of their predecessors. These works, four in number, 
are known as the Primitive Document 2 (denoted by the symbol J, and 
otherwise known as the Jehovistic or Yahwistic Document from the use 
in Genesis of the word Jehovah or Yahweh) ; the Elohistic Document 
(denoted by the symbol E, and so called from the use of the name 
Elohim for God instead of Yahweh) ; Deuteronomy (denoted by D, and 
constituting the original law book of Josiah) ; and the Priestly Docu- 
ment (denoted by the Symbol P, and written after the Exile B. C. 586 
by a man who was interested in the laws and precedents of Israel and 
the circumstances under which they were instituted). 3 The Pentateuch 
is a compilation from these earlier sources. Joshua may have been com- 
bined originally with the five books of the so-called Pentateuch, forming 
what is known as the Hexateuch, and afterwards separated from them, 
just as the Pentateuch which was originally one document has been 
divided into the five books as we now have them. The following dia- 
gram, which shows the general order of development of the material of 
the Pentateuch, illustrates the composite nature of many of the books 
of the Bible. 



Deuteronomy (D) 
Earlier Works (J. E.) 



j Elohistic 
^ Document (E) 


1 Bennett, A Biblical Introduction, p. 59 

2 The New Century Bible .'Genesis, p. 10 

3 Bennett, A Biblical Introduction, p. 54 


19 


The two collections of laws, customs, and traditions — the Primitive 
Document and the Elohistic Document — were made, the one in Judah, the 
other in Northern Israel, between about B. C. 960 to B. C. 721. About 
B. C. 700 or a little later, an editor combined current editions of these 
two documents. A new work, dealing chiefly with laws and customs, 
was also compiled in Judah at the same time; it is the book known as 
Deuteronomic Material and constituting the bulk of our Deuteronomy. 
These three works were combined at some time during the Exile to 
form what may be called the Threefold Document (J. E. D.). After the 
Exile, a new work on the history and the Laws, known as the Priestly 
Document, was compiled at Babylon. The combination of all of these 
works resulted in our Pentateuch, or, if it included Joshua, the 
Hexateuch. 


The Story of the Creation 

(Chapter I and Chapter 11) 

1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 
And the earth was without form and void ; and darkness was 
upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon 
the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light ; and 
there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; 
and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called 
the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the 
evening and the morning were the first day. 

And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of 
the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And 
God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were 
under the firmament from the waters which were above the 
firmanent: and it was so. And God called the firmament 
Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second 
day. 

And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gath- 
ered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: 
and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth; and the 
gathering together of the waters called he Seas; and God 


20 


saw that it was good. And God said, Let the earth bring forth 
grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit 
after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it 
was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding 
seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed 
was in itself, after his kind : and God saw that it was good. 
And the evening and the morning were the third day. 

And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the 
heaven to divide the day from the night ; and let them be for 
signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years ; and let them 
be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light 
upon the earth: and it was so. And God made two great 
lights ; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light 
to rule the night : he made the stars also. And God set them 
in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 
and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the 
light from the darkness : and God saw that it was good. And 
the evening and the morning were the fourth day. 

And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly 
the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly 
above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. And God 
created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, 
which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, 
and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it 
was good. And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and 
multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply 
in the earth. And the evening and the morning were the 
fifth day. 

And God said. Let the earth bring forth the living crea- 
ture after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of 
the earth after his kind : and it was so. And God made the 
beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, 
and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind : 
and God saw that it was good. 

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our 
likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the 

21 


Creation of Man 
—First Version 


Creation of Man 
—Second Version 


sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and 
over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creep- 
eth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in 
the image of God created he him ; male and female created 
he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, 
Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue 
it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the 
fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth 
upon the earth. 

And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bear- 
ing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every 
tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to 
you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, 
and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth 
upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green 
herb for meat : and it was so. 

And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, 
it was very good. And the evening and the morning were 
the sixth day. 

2 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all 
the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his 
work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day 
from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the 
seventh day, and sanctified it ; because that in it he had rested 
from all his work which God created and made. 

These are the generations of the heavens and of the 
earth when they w r ere created, in the day that the Lord God 
made the earth and the heavens, and every plant of the field 
before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before 
it grew; for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon 
the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. But 
there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole 
face of the ground. And the Lord God formed man of the 
dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath 
of life; and man became a living soul. 

And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; 


22 


and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out 
of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that 
is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life 
also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge 
of good and evil. And a river went out of Eden to water 
the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into 
four heads. The name of the first is Pison; that is it which 
compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. 
And the gold of that land is good ; there is bedellium and the 
onyx stone. And the name of the second river is Gihon; 
the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia. 
And the name of the third river is Hiddekel ; that is it which 
goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is 
Euphrates. And the Lord God took the man, and put him 
into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the 
Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the 
garden thou mayest freely eat; but of the tree of the knowl- 
edge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the 
day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. 

And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should 
be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And 
out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the 
field, and every fowl of the air ; and brought them unto Adam 
to see what he would call them ; and whatsoever Adam called 
every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam 
gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to 
every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found 
an help meet for him. And the Lord God caused a deep 
sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept; and he took one of 
his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the 
rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a 
woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, 
This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she 
shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and 
shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh. And 


23 


they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not 
ashamed. 


The Fall of Man 

(Chapter III) 

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the 
field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the 
woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of 
the garden? 

And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of 
the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the 
tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye 
shall not eat of it; neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely 
die; for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then 
your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing 
good and evil. 

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for 
food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be 
desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and 
did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her ; and he did 
eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew 
that they were naked ; and they sewed fig leaves together, and 
made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the 
Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day; and 
Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the 
Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. 

And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, 
Where art thou? 

And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was 
afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 

And He said, Who told thee that thou wast naked ? Hast 
thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou 
shouldest not eat? 


24 


And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be 
with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. 

And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this 
that thou hast done? 

And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I 
did eat. 

And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou 
hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above 
every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and 
dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life. And I will put 
enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed 
and her seed ; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise 
his heel. 

Unto the woman He said, I will greatly multiply thy 
sorrow and thy conception ; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth 
children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he 
shall rule over thee. 

And unto Adam He said, Because thou hast hearkened 
unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of 
which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: 
cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat 
of it all the days of thy life. Thorns also and thistles shall 
it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the 
field. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou 
return unto the ground ; for out of it wast thou taken ; for 
dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. 

And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was 
the mother of all living. 

Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make 
coats of skins, and clothed them. 

And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as 
one of us, to know good and evil ; and now, lest he put forth 
his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live 
for ever; therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the 
garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was 

25 


taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east 
of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which 
turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. 


The Story of Cain and Abel 

(Chapter IV) 

And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and 
bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. 
And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a 
keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And 
in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of 
the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, 
he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat 
thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his 
offering. But unto Cain and to his offering he had not 
respect. And Cain was very wroth and his countenance fell. 
And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why 
is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not 
be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. 
And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over 
him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother. And it came 
to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against 
Abel his brother, and slew him. 

And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? 

And he said, I know not. Am I my brother's keeper? 

And He said, What hast thou done? The voice of thy 
brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now art 
thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth 
to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand. When thou 
tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her 
strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the 
earth. 


26 


And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater 
than I can bear. Behold, thou hast driven me out this day 
from the face of the earth ; and from thy face shall I be hid ; 
and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and 
it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall 
slay me. 

And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth 
Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the 
Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill 
him. 

And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and 
dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. And Cain 
knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch. And he 
builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the 
name of his son, Enoch. And unto Enoch was born Irad: 
and Irad begat Mehujael : and Mehujael begat Methusael : and 
Methusael begat Lamech. And Lamech took unto him two 
wives; the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the 
other Zillah. And Adah bare Jabel; he was the father of 
such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle. And his 
brother's n^me was Jubal; he w T as the father of all such 
as handle the harp and organ. And Zillah, she also bare 
Tubal-cain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron ; 
and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah. 

And Lamech said unto his wives, 

Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice ; 

Ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: 

For I have slain a man to my wounding, 

And a young man to my hurt. 

If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, 

Truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold. 

And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, 
and called his name Seth. For God, said she, hath appointed 
me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. And to 


27 


Seth, to him also there was bom a son ; and he called his 
name Enos. Then began men to call upon the name of the 
Lord. 


The Flood 

( Chapter Vl-Chapter IX) 

6 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on 
the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, 
that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they 
were fair ; and they took them wives of all which they chose. 
And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with 
man, for that he also is flesh; yet his days shall be an hun- 
dred and twenty years. There were giants in the earth in 
those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came 
in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to 
them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men 
of renown. 

And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in 
the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of 
his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord 
that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his 
heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have 
created from the face of the earth ; both man, and beast, and 
the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repent- 
eth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in 
the eyes of the Lord. 

These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a just 
man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with 
God. And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 
The earth also was corrupt before God; and the earth was 
filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, 
behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way 
upon the earth. 


28 


And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come 
before me ; for the earth is filled with violence through them ; 
and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make thee 
an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, 
and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. And this 
is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of 
the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty 
cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. A window shalt 
thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above ; 
and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; 
with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it. 
And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the 
earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from 
under heaven ; and every thing that is in the earth shall die. 
But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt 
come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy 
sons' wives with thee. And of every living thing of all flesh, 
two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them 
alive with thee; they shall be male and female. Of fowls 
after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every 
creeping thing of the earth after his kind ; two of every sort 
shall come unto thee, to keep them alive. And take thou 
unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it 
to thee ; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them. 

Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded 
him, so did he. 

7 And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy 
house into the ark ; for thee have I seen righteous before me 
in this generation. Of every clean beast thou shalt take to 
thee by sevens, the male and his female; and of beasts that 
are not clean by two, the male and his female. Of fowls also 
of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed 
alive upon the face of all the earth. For yet seven days, and 
I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty 
nights; and every living substance that I have made will I 


Noah and the 
Ark 


29 


destroy from off the face of the earth. And Noah did accord- 
ing unto all that the Lord commanded him. 

And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of 
waters was upon the earth. 

And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his 
sons’ wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of 
the flood. Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, 
and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth, 
there went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male 
and the female, as God had commanded Noah. And it came to 
The Flood pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon 
the earth. In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the 
second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day 
were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the 
windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was upon the 
earth forty days and forty nights. In the selfsame day 
entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of 
Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with 
them, into the ark ; they, and every beast after his kind, and 
all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that 
creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after 
his kind, every bird of every sort. And they went in unto 
Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the 
breath of life. And they that went in, went in male and 
female of all flesh, as God had commanded him. And the 
Lord shut him in. 

And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the 
waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lifted up 
above the earth. And the waters prevailed, and were in- 
creased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the 
face of the waters. And the waters prevailed exceedingly 
upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the 
whole heaven, were covered. Fifteen cubits upward did the 
waters prevail ; and the mountains were covered. And all flesh 
died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, 
and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon 

30 


the earth, and every man ; all in whose nostrils was the breath 
of life, of all that was in the dry land, died. And every living 
substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the 
ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and 
the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the 
earth. And Noah only remained alive, and they that were 
with him in the ark. And the waters prevailed upon the 
earth a hundred and fifty days. 

8 And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and 
all the cattle that was with him in the ark; and God made a 
wind to pass over the earth, and the waters assuaged. The 
fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were 
stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained. And the 
waters returned from off the earth continually ; and after the 
end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated. 
And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth 
day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat. And the 
waters decreased continually until the tenth month; in the 
tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of 
the mountains seen. 

And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah 
opened the window of the ark which he had made; and he 
sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the 
waters were dried up from off the earth. Also he sent forth a 
dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the 
face of the ground. But the dove found no rest for the sole 
of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark; for the 
waters were on the face of the whole earth. Then he put forth 
his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the 
ark. And he stayed yet other seven days ; and again he sent 
forth the dove out of the ark. And the dove came in to him 
in the evening, and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf plucked 
off. So Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the 
earth. And he stayed yet other seven days, and sent forth 
the dove, which returned not again unto him any more. And 
it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first 

31 


Cod’s Covenant 
with Noah 


month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up 
from off the earth. And Noah removed the covering of the 
ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry. 
And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of 
the month, was the earth dried. 

And God spake unto Noah, saying, Go forth of the ark, 
thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with 
thee. Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with 
thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every 
creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may 
breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply 
upon the earth. And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his 
wife, and his sons' wives with him ; every beast, every creep- 
ing thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the 
earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark. 

And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of 
every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt 
offerings on the altar. And the Lord smelled a sweet savour ; 
and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the 
ground any more for man's sake ; for the imagination of man's 
heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any 
more every thing living, as I have done. While the earth 
remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and sum- 
mer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. 

9 And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, 
Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. And the 
fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of 
the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth 
upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your 
hand are they delivered. Every moving thing that liveth shall 
be meat for you ; even as the green herb have I given you all 
things. But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood 
thereof, shall ye not eat. And surely your blood of your lives 
will I require ; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and 
at the hand of man ; at the hand of every man's brother will I 
require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man 

32 


shall his blood be shed ; for in the image of God made he man. 
And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply ; bring forth abundantly 
in the earth, and multiply therein. 

And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, 
saying, And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and 
with your seed after you ; and with every living creature that 
is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of 
the earth with you ; from all that go out of the ark, to every 
beast of the earth. And I will establish my covenant with 
you ; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters 
of a flood ; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy 
the earth. And God said, This is the token of the covenant 
which I make between me and you, and every living creature 
that is with you, for perpetual generations. I do set my bow 
in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between 
me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a 
cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud. 
And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and 
you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters 
shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the 
bow shall be in the cloud ; and I will look upon it, that I may 
remember the everlasting covenant between God and every 
living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. And God 
said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I 
have established between me and all flesh that is upon the 
earth. 

And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were 
Shem, and Ham, and Japheth; and Ham is the father of 
Canaan. These are the three sons of Noah ; and of them was 
the whole earth overspread. 

And Noah began to be a husbandman, and he planted a 
vineyard; and he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and 
he was uncovered within his tent. And Ham, the father of 
Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two 
brethren without. And Shem and Japheth took a garment, 
and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, 


S3 


and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces 
were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness. 
And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger 
son had done unto him. And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a 
servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. And he 
said, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem ; and Canaan shall be 
his servant. God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell 
in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. 

And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty 
years. And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty 
years ; and he died. 


The Confusion of Tongues 

(Chapter XI, vs. 1-9) 

And the whole earth was of one language, and of one 
speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the 
east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar ; and they 
dwelt there. And they said one to another, Go to, let us 
make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick 
for stone, and slime had they for mortar. And they said, 
Go to, let us build us a city, and a tower, whose top may reach 
unto heaven ; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered 
abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the Lord came 
down to see the city and the tower, which the children of 
men builded. And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, 
and they have all one language; and this they begin to do; 
and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they 
have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there con- 
found their language, that they may not understand one 
another's speech. So the Lord scattered them abroad from 
thence upon the face of all the earth. And they left off to 
build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; 
because the Lord did there confound the language of all the 
earth; and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad 
upon the face of all the earth. 


34 


The Story of Abraham and Isaac 

(Chapter XXII , vs. 1-13) 

And it came to pass after these things, that God did 
tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham. 

And he said, Behold, here I am. 

And God said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, 
whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah ; and 
offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the moun- 
tains which I will tell thee of. 

And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled 
his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac 
his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose 
up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. Then 
on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the 
place afar off. And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide 
ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and 
worship, and come again to you. And Abraham took the wood 
of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he 
took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both 
of them together. 

And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My 
father. 

And he said, Here am I, my son. 

And Isaac said, Behold the fire and the wood ; but where 
is the lamb for a burnt offering? 

And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself 
a lamb for a burnt offering. 

So they went both of them together. And they came to 
the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an 
altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his 
son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And Abraham 
stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 

And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, 
and said, Abraham, Abraham. 


35 


And he said. Here am I. 

And the angel said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, 
neither do thou anything unto him ; for now I know that thou 
fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only 
son from me. 

And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked and behold 
behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns. And 
Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a 
burnt offering in the stead of his son. 


Jacobs Deception of Isaac 

(Chapter XXVII , vs. 1-UO) 

And it came to pass that when Isaac was old, and his 
eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his 
eldest son, and said unto him, My son. 

And he said unto him, Behold, here am I. 

And he said, Behold now, I am old ; I know not the day 
of my death. Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, 
thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me 
some venison; and make me savoury meat, such as I love, 
and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless 
thee before I die. And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to 
Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, 
and to bring it. 

And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I 
heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, Bring 
me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and 
bless thee before the Lord before my death. Now therefore, 
my son, obey my voice according to that which I command 
thee. Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good 
kids of the goats ; and I will make them savoury meat for thy 
father, such as he loveth; and thou shalt bring it to thy 
father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before 
his death. 


36 


And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my 
brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man; my father 
peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a 
deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me and not a 
blessing. 

And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my 
son; only obey my voice, and go fetch me them. 

And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his 
mother; and his mother made savoury meat, such as his 
father loved. And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest 
son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them 
upon Jacob her younger son. And she put the skins of the 
kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of 
his neck. And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, 
which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob. 

And he came unto his father, and said, My father. 

And he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son? 

And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; 
I have done according as thou badest me ; arise, I pray thee, 
sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me. 

And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast 
found it so quickly, my son? 

And he said, Because the Lord thy God brought it to me. 

And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that 
I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau 
or not. 

And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father. And Isaac 
felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands 
are the hands of Esau. And he discerned him not, because 
his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau’s hands: so he 
blessed him. 

And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? 

And he said, I am. 

And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my 
son’s venison, that my soul may bless thee. 

37 


And he brought it near to him, and he did eat; and he 
brought him wine, and he drank. 

And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and 
kiss me, my son. And he came near, and kissed him. And 
Isaac smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and 
said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which 
the Lord hath blessed. Therefore God give thee of the dew of 
heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and 
wine. Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee; 
be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down 
to thee; cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed 
be he that blesseth thee. 

And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end 
of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the 
presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in 
from his hunting. And he also had made savoury meat, and 
brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my 
father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may 
bless me. 

And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? 

And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau. 

And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? 
Where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, 
and I have eaten of all before thou earnest, and have blessed 
him? Yea, and he shall be blessed. 

And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried 
with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his 
father, Bless me, even me also, 0 my father. 

And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath 
taken away thy blessing. 

And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? For he hath 
supplanted me these two times : he took away my birthright 1 ; 
and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he 
said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me? 


1 Jacob bought Esau’s birthright for a mess of pottage. Genesis XXV, 
29-34 


38 


And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have 
made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him 
for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him. 
And what shall I do now unto thee, my son? 

And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one bless- 
ing, my father? Bless me, even me also, 0 my father. And 
Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. 

And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, 
thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew 
of heaven from above ; and by thy sword shalt thou live, and 
shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou 
shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from 
off thy neck. 


The Story of Jacob’s Journey 

( Chapter XXVII, vs. U1-U6, and Chapter XXVIII) 

27 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing where- 
with his father blessed him. And Esau said in his heart, 
The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will 
I slay my brother Jacob. 

And these words of Esau her elder son were told to 
Rebekah. And she sent and called Jacob her younger son, 
and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching 
thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee. Now there- 
fore, my son, obey my voice ; and arise, flee thou to Laban my 
brother to Haran; and tarry with him a few days, until thy 
brother's fury turn away; until thy brother's anger turn 
away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to 
him. Then I will send, and fetch thee from thence. Why 
should I be deprived also of you both in one day? 

And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because 
of the daughters of Heth. If Jacob take a wife of the daugh- 
ters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of 
the land, what good shall my life do me? 


39 


28 And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged 
him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the 
daughters of Canaan. Arise, go to Padan-aram, to the house 
of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from 
thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother. And 
Cod Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply 
thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; and give 
thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with 
thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a 
stranger, which God gave unto Abraham. 

And Isaac sent away Jacob. And he went to Padan-aram 
unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, 
Jacob's and Esau's mother. 

When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent 
him away to Padan-aram, to take him a wife from thence; 
and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, Thou 
shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan ; and that 
Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to 
Padan-aram; and Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan 
pleased not Isaac his father; then went Esau unto Ishmael, 
and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter 
of Ishmael Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his 
wife. 

And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward 
Haran. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there 
all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones 
of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in 
that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set 
up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and 
behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 
And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord 
God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac; the land 
whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed ; and 
thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth; and thou shalt 
spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, 


40 


and to the south; and in thee and in thy seed shall all the 
families of the earth be blessed. And, behold, I am with thee, 
and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will 
bring thee again into this land ; for I will not leave thee, until 
I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. 

And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely 
the Lord is in this place ; and I knew it not. And he was 
afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! This is none 
other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. 
And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone 
that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and 
poured oil upon the top of it. And he called the name of that 
place Beth-el; but the name of that city was called Luz at 
the first. And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with 
me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me 
bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come again to 
my father’s house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God. 
And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s 
house; and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give 
the tenth unto thee. 


The Story of Joseph and His Brethren 

(Chapter XXXVII , Chapter XXXIX — Chapter L, omitting 
Chapter XLVI, vs. 8-25) 

37 And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a 
stranger, in the land of Canaan. These are the generations 
of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the 
flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of 
Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives; and 
Joseph brought unto his father their evil report. Now Israel 
loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the 
son of his old age ; and he made him a coat of many colours. 
And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more 
than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak 
peaceably unto him. 


41 


And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren ; 
and they hated him yet the more. And he said unto them, 
Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: For, 
behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf 
arose, and also stood upright ; and, behold, your sheaves stood 
round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. And his 
brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or 
shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated 
him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. And he 
dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and 
said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the 
sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. 
And he told it to his father, and to his brethren. And his 
father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream 
that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy 
brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the 
earth ? And his brethren envied him ; but his father observed 
the saying. 

And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in 
Shechem. And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren 
feed the flock in Shechem? Come, and I will send thee unto 
them. And he said to him, Here am I. And he said to him, 
Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and 
well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent 
him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. 
And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wander- 
ing in the field. And the man asked him, saying, What seekest 
thou? And he said, I seek my brethren; tell me, I pray thee, 
where they feed their flocks. And the man said, They are 
departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. 
And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in 
Dothan. 

And when they saw him afar off, even before he came 
near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. And 
they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come 
now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, 


42 


and we will say some evil beast hath devoured him ; and we 
shall see what will become of his dreams. And Reuben heard 
it, and he delivered him out of their hands ; and said, Let us 
not kill him. And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but 
cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no 
hand upon him ; that he might rid him out of their hands, to 
deliver him to his father again. And it came to pass, when 
Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stripped Joseph 
out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him ; and 
they took him, and cast him into a pit ; and the pit was empty, 
there was no water in it. 

And they sat down to eat bread. And they lifted up their 
eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmaelites came 
from Gilead, with their camels bearing spicery and balm and 
myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt. And Judah said 
unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, 
and conceal his blood? Come, and let us sell him to the 
Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him ; for he is our 
brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content. Then 
there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew 
and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the 
Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And the Ishmael- 
ites brought Joseph into Egypt. 

And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph 
was not in the pit ; and he rent his clothes. And he returned 
unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither 
shall I go? And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of 
the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood; and they sent 
the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father, 
and said, This have we found; know now whether it be thy 
son's coat or no. And he knew it, and said, It is my son's 
coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without 
doubt rent in pieces. And Jacob rent his clothes, and put 
sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many 
days. And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to com- 
fort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For 


43 


I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus 
his father wept for him. 

And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, 
an officer of Pharaoh's and captain of the guard. 

***** 

39 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, 
an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, 
bought him of the hands of the Ishmaelites, which had 
brought him down thither. And the Lord was with Joseph, 
and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of 
his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord 
was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to 
prosper in his hand. And Joseph found grace in his sight, 
and he served him ; and he made him overseer over his house, 
and all that he had he put into his hand. And it came to pass 
from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, 
and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's 
house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the Lord was 
upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. And he 
left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not aught 
he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was 
a goodly person, and well favored. 

And it came to pass after these things, that his master's 
wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. 
But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my 
master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he 
hath committed all that he hath to my hand. There is none 
greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any 
thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife. How 
then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? 
And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that 
he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her. 
And it came to pass about this time that Joseph went into 
the house to do his business ; and there was none of the men 
of the house there within. And she caught him by his gar- 


44 


ment, saying, Lie with me. And he left his garment in her 
hand, and fled, and got him out. And it came to pass, when 
she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was 
fled forth, that she called unto the men of her house, and 
spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in a Hebrew 
unto us to mock us ; he came in unto me to lie with me, and 
I cried with a loud voice. And it came to pass, when he 
heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his 
garment with me, and fled, and got him out. And she laid 
up his garment by her, until her lord came home. And she 
spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew 
servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me 
to mock me ; and it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and 
cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out. And 
it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, 
which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did 
thy servant to me, that his wrath was kindled. And Joseph’s 
master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where 
the king’s prisoners were bound; and he was there in the 
prison. 

But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, 
and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 
And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all 
the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they 
did there, he was the doer of it. The keeper of the prison 
looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because 
the Lord was with Joseph and that which he did, the Lord 
made it to prosper. 

40 And it came to pass after these things, that the butler 
of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord 
the king of Egypt. And Pharaoh was wroth against two 
of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against 
the chief of the bakers. And he put them in ward in the 
house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place 
where Joseph was bound. And the captain of the guard 


Joseph Interprets 
the Dreams of 
Pharaoh’s Butler 
and Baker 


45 


charged Joseph with them, and he served them. And they 
continued a season in ward. 

And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his 
dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation 
of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, 
which were bound in the prison. And Joseph came in unto 
them in the morning, and looked upon them, and behold, 
they were sad. And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were 
with him in the ward of his lord's house, saying, Wherefore 
look ye so sadly to day? 

And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and 
there is no interpreter of it. 

And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations 
belong to God? Tell me them, I pray you. 

And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and 
said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me. 
And in the vine were three branches; and it was as though 
it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters 
thereof brought forth ripe grapes. And Pharaoh's cup was 
in my hand; and I took the grapes, and pressed them into 
Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand. 

And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of 
it: The three branches are three days. Yet within three 
days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto 
thy place; and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his 
hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler. 
But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew 
kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me 
unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house. For indeed 
I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews ; and here 
also have I done nothing that they should put me into the 
dungeon. 

When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was 
good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, 
behold, I had three white baskets on my head. And in the 


46 


uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats 
for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket 
upon my head. 

And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpreta- 
tion thereof : The three baskets are three days. Yet within 
three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and 
shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh 
from off thee. 

And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's 
birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants. And he 
lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker 
among his servants. And he restored the chief butler unto 
his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's 
hand. But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had inter- 
preted to them. Yet did not the chief butler remember 
Joseph, but forgat him. 

41 And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that 
Pharaoh dreamed. And, behold, he stood by the river. And, 
behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured 
kine and fatfleshed ; and they fed in a meadow. And, behold, 
seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill 
favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon 
the brink of the river. And the ill favoured and leanfleshed 
kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So 
Pharaoh awoke. And he slept and dreamed the second time. 
And, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank 
and good. And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with 
the east wind sprung up after them. And the seven thin 
ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh 
awoke, and, behold, it was a dream. 

And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was 
troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of 
Egypt, and all the wise men thereof. And Pharaoh told 
them his dream ; but there was none that could interpret them 
unto Pharaoh. 

Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do 
47 


Joseph Interprets 
Pharaoh's Dream 


remember my faults this day. Pharaoh was wroth with his 
servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard’s 
house, both me and the chief baker. And we dreamed a 
dream in one night, I and he ; we dreamed each man accord- 
ing to the interpretation of his dream. And there was there 
with us a young man, a Hebrew, servant to the captain of 
the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our 
dreams ; to each man according to his dream he did interpret. 
And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was ; me 
he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged. 

Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought 
him hastily out of the dungeon. And he shaved himself, 
and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh. And 
Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and 
there is none that can interpret it; and I have heard say of 
thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it. 

And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me; 
God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace. 

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I 
stood upon the bank of the river. And, behold, there came 
up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured ; 
and they fed in a meadow. And, behold, seven other kine 
came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and lean- 
fleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for 
badness. And the lean and the ill favoured kine did eat up the 
first seven fat kine. And when they had eaten them up, 
it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they 
were still ill favoured, as at the beginning. So I awoke. And 
I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one 
stalk, full and good. And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, 
and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them. And 
the thin ears devoured the seven good ears. And I told this 
unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare 
it to me. 

And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh 
is one; God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do. 


48 


The seven good kine are seven years ; and the seven good ears 
are seven years: the dream is one. And the seven thin and 
ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; 
and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall 
be seven years of famine. This is the thing which I have 
spoken unto Pharaoh; what God is about to do he sheweth 
unto Pharaoh. Behold, there come seven years of great 
plenty throughout all the land of Egypt. And there shall 
arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty 
shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt ; and the famine shall 
consume the land; and the plenty shall not be known in the 
land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very 
grievous. And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh 
twice ; it is because the thing is established by God, and God 
will shortly bring it to pass. Now therefore let Pharaoh 
look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the 
land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint 
officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land 
of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. And let them gather 
all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn 
under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the 
cities. And that food shall be for store to the land against 
the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of 
Egypt ; that the land perish not through the famine. 

And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in 
the eyes of all his servants. And Pharaoh said unto his 
servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom 
the Spirit of God is? And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, For- 
asmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so 
discreet and wise as thou art. Thou shalt be over my house, 
and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled; 
only in the throne will I be greater than thou. And Pharaoh 
said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of 
Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and 
put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of 
fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck ; and he made 
him to ride in the second chariot which he had. And they 

49 


cried before him, Bow the knee. And he made him ruler 
over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, 
I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his 
hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh called 
Joseph's name Zaphnath-paaneah ; and he gave him to wife 
Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On. And 
Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. 

And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before 
Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the 
presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of 
Egypt. And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought 
forth by handfuls. And he gathered up all the food of the 
seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up 
the food in the cities ; the food of the field, which was round 
about every city, laid he up in the same. And Joseph gath- 
ered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left 
numbering; for it was without number. And unto Joseph 
were born two sons, before the years of famine came ; which 
Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On bare unto 
him. And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh : 
for God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all 
my father’s house. And the name of the second called he 
Ephraim: for God has caused me to be fruitful in the land 
of my affliction. 

And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the 
land of Egypt, were ended. And the seven years of dearth 
began to come, according as Joseph had said. And the 
dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there 
was bread. And when all the land of Egypt was fam- 
ished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. And Pharaoh 
said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith 
to you, do. And the famine was over all the face of the 
earth. And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold 
unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land 
of Egypt. And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for 
to buy corn ; because that the famine was so sore in all lands. 


50 


42 Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Joseph and his 
Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another? Brethren in Egypt 
And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt. 

Get you down thither, and buy for us from thence that we 
may live, and not die. And Joseph's ten brethren went down 
to buy corn in Egypt. But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob 
sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure 
mischief befall him. And the sons of Israel came to buy 
corn among those that came ; for the famine was in the land 
of Canaan. 

And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it 
was that sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph's 
brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with 
their faces to the earth. And Joseph saw his brethren, and 
he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and 
spake roughly unto them. And he said unto them, Whence 
come ye? 

And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. 

And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him. 

And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of 
them, and said unto them, Ye are spies ; to see the nakedness 
of the land ye are come. 

And they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food 
are thy servants come. We are all one man's sons ; we are 
true men ; thy servants are no spies. 

And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness 
of the land ye are come. 

And they said, Thy servants are twelve brethren, the 
sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the 
youngest is this day with our father, and one is not. 

And Joseph said unto them, That is it that I spake unto 
you, saying, Ye are spies. Hereby ye shall be proved. By 
the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your 
youngest brother come hither. Send one of you, and let 
him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that 


51 


your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in 
you ; or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies. And 
he put them all together into ward three days. And Joseph 
said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear 
God. If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound 
in the house of your prison ; go ye, carry corn for the famine 
of your houses; but bring your youngest brother unto me; 
so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they 
did so. 

And they said one to another, We are verily guilty con- 
cerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, 
when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is 
this distress come upon us. And Reuben answered them, 
saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against 
the child; and ye would not hear? Therefore, behold, also 
his blood is required. And they knew not that Joseph under- 
stood them ; for he spake unto them by an interpreter. And 
he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned 
to them again, and communed with them, and took from them 
Simeon, and bound him before their eyes. 

Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, 
and to restore every man’s money into his sack, and to give 
them provision for the way. And thus did he unto them. 
And they laded their asses with the corn, and departed 
thence. And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass 
provender in the inn, he espied his money; for, behold, it was 
in his sack’s mouth. And he said unto his brethren, My 
money is restored ; and, lo, it is even in my sack. And their 
heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to 
another, What is this that God hath done unto us? 

And they came unto Jacob their father unto the land of 
Canaan, and told him all that befell unto them, saying, The 
man, who is the lord of the land, spake roughly to us, and 
took us for spies of the country. And we said unto him, We 
are true men ; we are no spies. We be twelve brethren, sons 
of our father; one is not, and the youngest is this day with 


52 


our father in the land of Canaan. And the man, the lord 
of the country, said unto us, Herdby shall I know that ye 
are true men; leave one of your brethren here with me, and 
take food for the famine of your households, and be gone; 
and bring your youngest brother unto me ; then shall I know 
that ye are no spies, but that ye are true men. So will I 
deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffic in the land. 

And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, 
behold, every man's bundle of money was in his sack; and 
when both they and their father saw the bundles of money, 
they were afraid. 

And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye be- 
reaved of my children. Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, 
and ye will take Benjamin away. All these things are 
against me. 

And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two 
sons, if I bring him not to thee; deliver him into my hand, 
and I will bring him thee again. 

And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for 
his brother is dead, and he is left alone. If mischief befall 
him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down 
my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. 

43 And the famine was sore in the land. And it came to 
pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought 
out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy 
us a little food. 

And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did 
solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, 
except your brother be with you. If thou wilt send our 
brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food. But 
if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down. For the man 
said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother 
be with you. 

And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as 
to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother ? 


53 


And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, 
and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? Have 
ye another brother? And we told him according to the tenor 
of these words. Could we certainly know that he would 
say, Bring your brother down? 

And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad 
with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and 
not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones. I will 
be surety for him ; of my hand shalt thou require him. If I 
bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let 
me bear the blame for ever; for except we had lingered, 
surely now we had returned this second time. 

And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so 
now, do this: Take of the best fruits in the land in your 
vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and 
a little honey, spices and myrrh, huts and almonds; and 
take double money in your hand; and the money that was 
brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in 
your hand; peradventure it was an oversight. Take also 
your brother, and arise, go again unto the man. And God 
Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send 
away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved 
of my children, I am bereaved. 

And the men took that present, and they took double 
money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went 
down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph. And when Joseph 
saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house. 
Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these 
men shall dine with me at noon. And the man did as Joseph 
bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph's house. 
And the men were afraid, because they were brought into 
Joseph's house. And they said, Because of the money that 
was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought 
in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, 
and take us for bondmen, and our asses. And they came 
near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they communed 


54 


with him at the door of the house, and said, 0 sir, we came 
indeed down at the first time to buy food. And it came to 
pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, 
and, behold, every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, 
our money in full weight; and we have brought it again in 
our hand. And other money have we brought down in our 
hands to buy food ; we cannot tell who put our money in our 
sacks. And he said, Peace be to you, fear not; your God, 
and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your 
sacks. I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto 
them. And the man brought the men into Joseph's house, 
and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he 
gave their asses provender. And they made ready the present 
against Joseph came at noon; for they heard that they should 
eat bread there. 

And when Joseph came home, they brought him the 
present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed 
themselves to him to the earth. And he asked them of their 
welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom 
ye spake ? Is he yet alive ? 

And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good 
health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads 
and made obeisance. 

And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, 
his mother's son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of 
whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious 
unto thee, my son. 

And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon 
his brother; and he sought where to weep; and he entered 
into his chamber, and wept there. And he washed his face, 
and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread. 
And they set on for him by himself, and for them by them- 
selves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by 
themselves ; because the Egyptians might not eat bread with 
the Hebrews, for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians. 
And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birth- 


55 


right, and the youngest according to his youth. And the 
men marvelled one at another. And he took and sent messes 
unto them from before him; but Benjamin's mess was five 
times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were 
merry with him. 

44 And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, 
Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, 
and put every man's money in his sack's mouth. And put 
my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of the youngest, 
and his corn money. And he did according to the word that 
Joseph had spoken. As soon as the morning was light, the 
men were sent away, they and their asses. And when they 
were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said 
unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou 
dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye 
rewarded evil for good? Is not this it in which my lord 
drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? Ye have done 
evil in so doing. 

And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these 
same words. And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my 
lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do 
according to this thing. Behold, the money, which we found 
in our sacks' mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the 
land of Canaan. How then should we steal out of thy lord's 
house silver or gold? With whomsoever of thy servants it 
be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord's bond- 
men. 

And he said, Now also let it be according unto your 
words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and 
ye shall be blameless. 

Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the 
ground, and opened every man his sack. And he searched, 
and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest. And the 
cup was found in Benjamin's sack. Then they rent their 
clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the 
city. 


56 


And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph’s house; 
for he was yet there ; and they fell before him on the ground. 

And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye 
have done? Wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly 
divine? 

And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? What 
shall we speak ? Or how shall we clear ourselves ? God hath 
found out the iniquity of thy servants. Behold, we are my 
lord’s servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is 
found. 

And he said, God forbid that I should do so. But the 
man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant ; 
and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father. 

Then Judah came near unto him, and said, O my lord, 
let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord’s ears, 
and let not thine anger burn against thy servant ; for thou art 
even as Pharaoh. My lord asked his servants, saying, Have 
ye a father, or a brother? And we said unto my lord, We 
have a father, an old man and a child of his old age, a little 
one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his 
mother, and his father loveth him. And thou saidst unto 
thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine 
eyes upon him. And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot 
leave his father; for if he should leave his father, his father 
would die. And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your 
youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face 
no more. And it came to pass when we came up unto thy 
servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. And 
our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food. And 
we said, We cannot go down. If our youngest brother be 
with us, then will we go down ; for we may not see the man’s 
face, except our youngest brother be with us. And thy 
servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare 
me two sons. And the one went out from me, and I said, 
Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since. And 
if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye 


57 


shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. 
Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and 
the lad be not with us, seeing that his life is bound up in 
the lad's life; it shall come to pass, when he seeth that the 
lad is not with us, that he will die. And thy servants shall 
bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with 
sorrow to the grave. For thy servant became surety for the 
lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then 
I shall bear the blame to my father for ever. Now therefore, 
I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bond- 
man to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren. For 
how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? 
Lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my 
father. 

45 Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them 
that stood by him. And he cried, Cause every man to go out 
from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph 
made himself known unto his brethren. And he wept aloud. 
And the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. And 
Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph. Doth my father 
yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they 
were troubled at his presence. And Joseph said unto his 
brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. 
And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into 
Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with your- 
selves, that ye sold me hither; for God did send me before 
you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine 
been in the land; and yet there are five years, in the which 
there shall neither be earing nor harvest. And God sent me 
before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to 
save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not 
you that sent me hither, but God; and he hath made me a 
father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler 
throughout all the land of Egypt. Haste ye, and go up to 
my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God 
hath made me lord of all Egypt. Come down unto me, tarry 


58 


not. And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou 
shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy 
children’s children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all 
that thou hast. And there will I nourish thee ; for yet there 
are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and 
all that thou hast, come to poverty. And, behold, your eyes 
see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my 
mouth that speaketh unto you. And ye shall tell my father 
of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen ; and ye 
shall haste and bring down my father hither. And he fell 
upon his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept; and Benjamin 
wept upon his neck. Moreover he kissed all his brethren, 
and wept upon them. And after that his brethren talked 
with him. 

And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh’s house, say- 
ing, Joseph’s brethren are come. And it pleased Pharaoh 
well, and his servants. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say 
unto thy brethren, This do ye: lade your beasts, and go, 
get you unto the land of Canaan; and take your father and 
your households, and come unto me; and I will give you the 
good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the 
land. Now thou art commanded, this do ye: take you wagons 
out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your 
wives, and bring your father, and come. Also regard not 
your stuff ; for the good of all the land of Egypt’is yours. 

And the children of Israel did so. And Joseph gave 
them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, 
and gave them provisions for the way. To all of them he gave 
each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave 
three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment. 
And to his father he sent after this manner : ten asses laden 
with the good things of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with 
corn and bread and meat for his father by the way. So he 
sent his brethren away, and they departed. And he said 
unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way. 

And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land 


59 


of Canaan unto Jacob their father, and told him, saying, 
Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of 
Egypt- And Jacob's heart fainted, for he believed them not. 
And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had 
said unto them. And when he saw the wagons which Joseph 
had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived. 
And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive; I 
will go and see him before I die. 

46 And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and 
came to Beer-sheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of 
his father Isaac. 

And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, 
and said, Jacob, Jacob. 

And he said, Here am I. 

And he said, I am God, the God of thy father. Fear not 
to go down into Egypt ; for I will there make of thee a great 
nation. I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will 
also surely bring thee up again; and Joseph shall put his 
hand upon thine eyes. 

And Jacob rose up from Beer-sheba; and the sons of 
Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and 
their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry 
him. And they took their cattle, and their goods, which 
they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, 
Jacob, and all his seed with him ; his sons, and his sons' sons 
with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters, and all 
his seed brought he with him into Egypt. 

* * * * * 

All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which 
came out of his loins, besides Jacob's sons' wives, all the 
souls were threescore and six. And the sons of Joseph, which 
were born him in Egypt, were two souls. All the souls of 
the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore 
and ten. 

And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to direct 


60 


his face unto Goshen ; and they came into the land of Goshen. 

And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet 
Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him ; 
and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. 

And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I 
have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive. 

And J oseph said unto his brethren, and unto his father's 
house, I will go up, and shew Pharaoh, and say unto him, My 
brethren, and my father's house, which were in the land of 
Canaan, are come unto me; and the men are shepherds, for 
their trade hath been to feed cattle; and they have brought 
their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have. And it 
shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, 
What is your occupation? that ye shall say, Thy servants' 
trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, 
both we, and also our fathers ; that ye may dwell in the land 
of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the 
Egyptians. 

47 Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, My father 
and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that 
they have, are come out of the land of Canaan ; and, behold, 
they are in the land of Goshen. And he took some of his 
brethren, even five men, and presented them unto Pharaoh. 

And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, What is your 
occupation ? 

And they said unto Pharaoh, Thy servants are shepherds, 
both we, and also our fathers. They said moreover unto Pha- 
raoh, For to sojourn in the land are we come; for thy servants 
have no pasture for their flocks ; for the famine is sore in the 
land of Canaan. Now therefore, we pray thee, let thy serv- 
ants dwell in the land of Goshen. 

And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, saying, Thy father and 
thy brethren are come unto thee. The land of Egypt is before 
thee; in the best of the land make thy father and brethren 
to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell; and if thou 


61 


knowest any men of activity among them, then make them 
rulers over my cattle. 

And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him 
before Pharaoh; and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. 

And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou? 

And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of 
my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty years. Few and evil 
have the days of the years of my life been, and have not 
attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers 
in the days of their pilgrimage. And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, 
and went out from before Pharaoh. 

And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave 
them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the 
land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. 
And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all 
his father’s household, with bread, according to their families. 

And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine 
was very sore, so that the land of Egypt and all the land of 
Canaan fainted by reason of the famine. And Joseph gath- 
ered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, 
and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought; 
and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house. 

And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the 
land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, 
Give us bread; for why should we die in thy presence? For 
the money faileth. And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I 
will give you for your cattle, if money fail. And they brought 
their cattle unto Joseph; and Joseph gave them bread in ex- 
change for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the 
herds, and for the asses ; and he fed them with bread for all 
their cattle for that year. When that year was ended, they 
came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will 
not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent; my 
lord also hath our herds of cattle ; there is not aught left in the 
sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands. Wherefore 


62 


shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? Buy us 
and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants 
unto Pharaoh ; and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, 
that the land be not desolate. And Joseph bought all the land 
of Egypt for Pharaoh ; for the Egyptians sold every man his 
field, because the famine prevailed over them. So the land 
became Pharaoh's. And as for the people, he removed them to 
cities from one end of the borders of Egypt even to the other 
end thereof. Only the land of the priests bought he not; for 
the priests had a portion assigned them of Pharaoh, and did 
eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them; wherefore they 
sold not their lands. Then Joseph said unto the people, 
Behold, I have bought you this day, and your land for Pha- 
raoh. Lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land. 
And it shall come to pass in the increase, that ye shall give 
the fifth part unto Pharaoh, and four parts shall be your own, 
for seed of the field, and for your food, and for them of your 
households, and for food for your little ones. And they said, 
Thou hast saved our lives. Let us find grace in the sight of 
my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants. And Joseph 
made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pha- 
raoh should have the fifth part ; except the land of the priests 
only, which became not Pharaoh's. 

And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of 
Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and 
multiplied exceedingly. And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt 
seventeen years; so the whole age of Jacob was a hundred 
forty and seven years. 

And the time drew nigh that Israel must die. And he 
called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found 
grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, 
and deal kindly and truly with me ; bury me not, I pray thee, 
in Egypt. But I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry 
me out of Egypt, and bury me in their buryingplace. 

And he said, I will do as thou hast said. 

And Israel said, Swear unto me. 


63 


And he sware unto him. 

And Israel bowed himself upon the bed’s head. 

48 And it came to pass after these things, that one told 
Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick. And Joseph took with him 
his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 

And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph 
cometh unto thee. And Israel strengthened himself, and sat 
upon the bed. And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty 
appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed 
me, and said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and 
multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; 
and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlast- 
ing possession. And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Ma- 
nasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt, 
before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine ; as Reuben and 
Simeon, they shall be mine. And thy issue, which thou beget- 
test after them, shall be thine, and shall be called after the 
name of their brethren in their inheritance. And as for me, 
when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of 
Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to 
come unto Ephrath. And I buried her there in the way of 
Ephrath; the same is Beth-lehem. 

And Israel beheld Joseph’s sons, and said, Who are these? 

And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom 
God hath given me in this place. 

And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will 
bless them. 

Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could 
not see. And he brought them near unto him ; and he kissed 
them, and embraced them. 

And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy 
face ; and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed. 

And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, 
and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. And Joseph 
took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s 


64 


left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right 
hand, and brought them near unto him. 

And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon 
Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon 
Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly ; for Manasseh 
was the firstborn. And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, 
before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the 
God which fed me all my life long unto this day, the Angel 
which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads ; and let my 
name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abra- 
ham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the 
midst of the earth. 

And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand 
upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; and he held up 
his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head unto 
Manasseh’s head. And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, 
my father ; for this is the firstborn ; put thy right hand upon 
his head. 

And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I 
know it. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be 
great ; but truly, his younger brother shall be greater than he, 
and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. 

And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel 
bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh. 
And he set Ephraim before Manasseh. And Israel said unto 
Joseph, Behold, I die; but God shall be with you, and bring 
you again unto the land of your fathers. Moreover I have 
given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took 
out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my 
bow. 

49 And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather your- 
selves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall 
you in the last days. 

Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob, 

And hearken unto Israel your father. 


Jacob Blesses 
his Sons 


65 


Reuben, thou art my firstborn, 

My might, and the beginning of my strength, 

The excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power 
Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel ; 

Because thou wentest up to thy father's bed ; 

Then defiledst thou it : he went up to my couch. 

Simeon and Levi are brethren; 

Instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. 

0 my soul, come not thou into their secret; 

Unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united : 
For in their anger they slew a man, 

And in their selfwill they digged down a wall. 

Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce ; 

And their wrath, for it was cruel. 

I will divide them in Jacob, 

And scatter them in Israel. 

Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise; 

Thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies ; 

Thy father's children shall bow down before thee. 
Judah is a lion's whelp ; 

From the prey, my son, thou art gone up ; 

He stooped down, he couched as a lion, 

And as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? 

The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, 

Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, 

Until Shiloh come; 

And unto him shall the gathering of the people be. 
Binding his foal unto the vine, 

And his ass's colt unto the choice vine; 

He washed his garments in wine, 

And his clothes in the blood of grapes ; 

His eyes shall be red with wine, 

And his teeth white with milk. 

Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea ; 


66 


And he shall be for an haven of ships ; 

And his border shall be unto Zidon. 

Issachar is a strong ass 

Couching down between two burdens. 

And he saw that rest was good, 

And the land that it was pleasant; 

And bowed his shoulder to bear, 

And became a servant unto tribute. 

Dan shall judge his people, 

As one of the tribes of Israel. 

Dan shall be a serpent by the way, 

An adder in the path, 

That biteth the horse heels, 

So that his rider shall fall backward. 

(I have waited for thy salvation, 0 Lord.) 

Gad, a troop shall overcome him; 

But he shall overcome at the last. 

Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, 

And he shall yield royal dainties. 

Naphtali is a hind let loose; 

He giveth goodly words. 

Joseph is a fruitful bough, 

Even a fruitful bough by a well; 

Whose branches run over the wall. 

The archers have sorely grieved him, 

And shot at him, and hated him ; 

But his bow abode in strength, 

And the arms of his hands were made strong 
By the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; 

(From thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) 
Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee 


67 


And by the Almighty, who shall bless thee 
With blessings of heaven above, 

Blessings of the deep that lieth under, 

Blessings of the breast, and of the womb. 

The blessings of thy father have prevailed 
Above the blessings of my progenitors 
Unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills ; 

They shall be on the head of Joseph, 

And on the crown of the head of him 
That was separate from his brethren. 

Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf; 

In the morning he shall devour the prey, 

And at night he shall divide the spoil. 

All these are the twelve tribes of Israel; and this is it 
that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every 
one according to his blessing he blessed them. And he charged 
them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people. 
Bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of 
Ephron the Hittite, in the cave that is in the field of Mach- 
pelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which 
Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a 
possession of a buryingplace. There they buried Abraham 
and Sarah his wife ; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his 
wife ; and there I buried Leah. The purchase of the field and 
of the cave that is therein was from the children of Heth. 
And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, 
he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, 
and was gathered unto his people. 

50 And Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept upon 
him, and kissed him. And Joseph commanded his servants 
the physicians to embalm his father. And the physicians 
embalmed Israel. And forty days were fulfilled for him; for 
so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed ; and the 
Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days. 

And when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph 

68 


spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found 
grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, 
saying, My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die. In my 
grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there 
shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, 
and bury my father, and I will come again. 

And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according 
as he made thee swear. 

And Joseph went up to bury his father, and with him 
went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, 
and all the elders of the land of Egypt, and all the house of 
Joseph, and his brethren, and his father's house; only their 
little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the 
land of Goshen. And there went up with him both chariots 
and horsemen; and it was a very great company. And they 
came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan; 
and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamenta- 
tion ; and he made a mourning for his father seven days. And 
when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the 
mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, This is a grievous 
mourning to the Egyptians. Wherefore the name of it was 
called Abel-mizraim, which is beyond Jordan. And his sons 
did unto him according as he commanded them. For his sons 
carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the 
cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with 
the field for a possession of a buryingplace of Ephron the 
Hittite, before Mamre. 

And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, 
and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had 
buried his father. 

And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was 
dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will 
certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. And 
they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did 
command before he died, saying, So shall ye say unto Joseph, 
Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and 


69 


their sin ; for they did unto thee evil ; and now, we pray thee, 
forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. 
And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. And his breth- 
ren also went and fell down before his face. And they said, 
Behold, we be thy servants. 

And Joseph said unto them, Fear not; for am I in the 
place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; 
but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, 
to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not; I will 
nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, 
and spake kindly unto them. 

And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father’s house; 
and Joseph lived a hundred and ten years. And Joseph saw 
Ephraim’s children of the third generation ; the children also 
of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph’s 
knees. And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die; and God 
will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the 
land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. And 
Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will 
surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence. 
So Joseph died, being a hundred and ten years old. And they 
embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. 


EXODUS 


The Bondage of the Israelites in Egypt 

(Chapter I, vs. 7-lb) 

And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased 
abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; 
and the land was filled with them. Now there arose up a 
new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. And he said 
unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel 
are more and mightier than we. Come on, let us deal wisely 
with them ; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when 
there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, 
and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land. 
Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them 
with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cit- 
ies, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, 
the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved 
because of the children of Israel. And the Egyptians made 
the children of Israel to serve with rigour. And they made 
their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, 
and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, 
wherein they made them serve, was with rigour. 


Moses Adopted by Pharaoh’s Daughter 

(Chapter II, vs. 1-10) 

And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to 
wife a daughter of Levi. And the woman conceived, and bare 
a son. And when she saw him that he was a goodly child, 
she hid him three months. And when she could no longer hide 


71 


him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with 
slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid 
it in the flags by the rivers brink. And his sister stood afar 
off, to wit what would be done to him. 

And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself 
at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river's 
side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent 
her maid to fetch it. And when she had opened it, she saw 
the child ; and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compas- 
sion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children. 

Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go 
and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may 
nurse the child for thee? 

And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. And the maid 
went and called the child's mother. 

And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, Take this child 
away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. 
And the woman took the child, and nursed it. 

And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's 
daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name 
Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water. 


The Plagues 

(Chapter Vll-Chapter XI, and Chapter XII, vs. 1-30) 

7 And the Lord said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a 
god to Pharaoh ; and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. 
Thou shalt speak all that I command thee; and Aaron thy 
brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children 
of Israel out of his land. And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, 
and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. 
But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my 
hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my peo- 
ple the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great 


72 


judgments. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the 
Lord, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring 
out the children of Israel from among them. 

And Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded them, 
so did they. And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron 
fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh. 

And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 
When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle 
for you; then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and 
cast it befbre Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent. 

And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they 
did so as the Lord had commanded. And Aaron cast down 
his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became 
a serpent. Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the 
sorcerers. Now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like 
manner with their enchantments. For they cast down every 
man his rod, and they became serpents. But Aarons rod 
swallowed up their rods. And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, 
that he hearkened not unto them, as the Lord had said. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hard- 
ened ; he refuseth to let the people go. Get thee unto Pharaoh 
in the morning (lo, he goeth out unto the water), and thou 
shalt stand by the river's brink, against he come ; and the rod 
which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand. 
And thou shalt say unto him, The Lord God of the Hebrews 
hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they 
may serve me in the wilderness, and, behold, hitherto thou 
wouldest not hear. Thus saith the Lord, In this thou shalt 
know that I am the Lord. Behold, I will smite with the rod 
that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, 
and they shall be turned to blood. And the fish that is in the 
river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians 
shall loathe to drink of the water of the river. 

And the Lord spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take 
thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, 
upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds. 


The Waters Turned 
to Blood 


73 


The Plague of 
Frogs 


and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood ; 
and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, 
both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone. 

And Moses and Aaron did so, as the Lord commanded. 
And he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in 
the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his 
servants. And all the waters that were in the river were 
turned to blood. And the fish that was in the river died ; and 
the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the 
water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the 
land of Egypt. And the magicians of Egypt did so with their 
enchantments. And Pharaoh’s heart was hardened; neither 
did he hearken unto them, as the Lord had said. And Pharaoh 
turned and went into his house ; neither did he set his heart 
to this also. And all the Egyptians digged round about the 
river for water to drink ; for they could not drink of the water 
of the river. And seven days were fulfilled, after that the 
Lord had smitten the river. 

8 And the Lord spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and 
say unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Let my people go, that 
they may serve me. And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, 
I will smite all thy borders with frogs. And the river shall 
bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into 
thine house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and 
into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into 
thine ovens, and into thy kneadingtroughs. And the frogs 
shall come up both on thee, and upon thy people, and upon all 
thy servants. 

And the Lord spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch 
forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the 
rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon 
the land of Egypt. 

And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of 
Egypt. And the frogs came up, and covered the land of 
Egypt. And the magicians did so with their enchantments, 
and brought frogs upon the land of Egypt. 


74 


Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, 
Entreat the Lord, that he may take away the frogs from me, 
and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they 
may do sacrifice unto the Lord. 

And Moses* said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me. When 
shall I entreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy peo- 
ple, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they 
may remain in the river only? 

And Pharaoh said, Tomorrow. And Moses said, Be it 
according to thy word; that thou mayest know that there is 
none like unto the Lord our God. And the frogs shall depart 
from thee, and from thy houses, and from thy servants, and 
from thy people ; they shall remain in the river only. 

And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh. And 
Moses cried unto the Lord because of the frogs which he had 
brought against Pharaoh. And the Lord did according to the 
word of Moses ; and the frogs died out of the houses, out of 
the villages, and out of the fields. And they gathered them 
together upon heaps ; and the land stank. But when Pharaoh 
saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and heark- 
ened not unto them, as the Lord had said. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch 
out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may be- 
come lice throughout all the land of Egypt. 

And they did so. For Aaron stretched out his hand with 
his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in 
man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice 
throughout all the land of Egypt. And the magicians did so 
with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could 
not. So there were lice upon man, and upon beast. Then the 
magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God. And 
Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto 
them, as the Lord had said. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morn- 
ing, and stand before Pharaoh (lo, he cometh forth to the 
water) and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Let my people 


The Plague of 
Lice 


75 


The Plague of 
Flies 


go, that they may serve me. Else, if thou wilt not let my 
people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and 
upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses ; 
and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms 'of 
flies, and also the ground whereon they are. And I will sever 
in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that 
no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest 
know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth. And I 
will put a division between my people and thy people: to 
morrow shall this sign be. And the Lord did so. And there 
came a grievous swarm of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and 
into his servants' houses, and into all the land of Egypt; the 
land was corrupted by reason of the swarm of flies. 

And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, 
Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land. 

And Moses said, It is not meet so to do; for we shall 
sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the Lord our 
God. Lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians 
before their eyes, and will they not stone us? We will go 
three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the 
Lord our God, as he shall command us. 

And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice 
to the Lord your God in the wilderness ; only ye shall not go 
very far away. Entreat for me. 

And Moses said, Behold, I go out from thee, and I will 
entreat the Lord that the swarms of flies may depart from 
Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, to morrow. 
But let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting 
the people go to sacrifice to the Lord. 

And Moses went out from Pharaoh, and entreated the 
Lord. And the Lord did according to the word of Moses ; and 
he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his 
servants, and from his people ; there remained not one. And 
Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would 
he let the people go. 


76 


9 Then the Lord said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and 
tell him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my 
people go, that they may serve me. For if thou refuse to let 
them go, and wilt hold them still, behold, the hand of the Lord 
is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon 
the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep ; 
there shall be a very grievous murrain. And the Lord shall 
sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt ; and 
there shall nothing die of all that is the children's of Israel. 
And the Lord appointed a set time, saying, To morrow the 
Lord shall do this thing in the land. And the Lord did that 
thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died. But of 
the cattle of the children of Israel died not one. And Pha- 
raoh sent, and, behold, there was not one of the cattle of the 
Israelites dead. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and 
he did not let the people go. 

And the Lord said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to 
you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle 
it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh. And it shall 
become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil 
breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast, 
throughout all the land of Egypt. 

And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before 
Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it 
became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon 
beast. And the magicians could not stand before Moses 
because of the boils ; for the boil was upon the magicians, and 
upon all the Egyptians. And the Lord hardened the heart of 
Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them, as the Lord had 
spoken unto Moses. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morn- 
ing, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith 
the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they 
may serve me. For I will at this time send all my plagues 
upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people ; 
that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the 


The Plague of 
Murrain 


The Plague of 
Boils 


77 


The Plague of 
Hail 


earth. For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite 
thee and thy people with pestilence ; and thou shalt be cut off 
from the earth. And in very deed for this cause have I raised 
thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name 
may be declared throughout all the earth. As yet exaltest 
thou thyself against my people, that thou will not let them go ? 
Behold, to morrow about this time, I will cause it to rain a 
very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the 
foundation thereof even until now. Send therefore now, and 
gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field ; for upon 
every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and 
shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon 
them, and they shall die. He that feared the word of the Lord 
among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his 
cattle flee into the houses ; and he that regarded not the word 
of the Lord left his servants and his cattle in the field. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand 
toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, 
upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, 
throughout the land of Egypt. 

And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven. And 
the Lord sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon 
the ground ; and the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt. 
So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very griev- 
ous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt 
since it became a nation. And the hail smote throughout all 
the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and 
beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake 
every tree of the field. Only in the land of Goshen, where the 
children of Israel were, was there no hail. 

And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and 
said unto them, I have sinned this time ; the Lord is righteous, 
and I and my people are wicked. Entreat the Lord (for it is 
enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; 
and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer. 

And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the 

78 


city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the Lord; and the 
thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail ; that 
thou mayest know how that the earth is the Lord's. But as 
for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the 
Lord God. And the flax and the barley was smitten ; for the 
barley was in the ear, and the flax was boiled. But the wheat 
and the rye were not smitten; for they were not grown up. 

And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread 
abroad his hands unto the Lord: and the thunders and hail 
ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth. And 
when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders 
were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he 
and his servants. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened; 
neither would he let the children of Israel go, as the Lord had 
spoken by Moses. 

10 And the Lord said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for 
I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that 
I might shew these my signs before him ; and that thou may- 
est tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son's son, what 
things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have 
done among them ; that ye may know how that I am the Lord. 

And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said 
unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, How long 
wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? Let my people 
go, that they may serve me. Else, if thou refuse to let my 
people go, behold, to morrow will I bring the locusts into thy 
coast. And they shall cover the face of the earth, that one 
cannot be able to see the earth ; and they shall eat the residue 
of that which is escaped, which remaineth unto you from the 
hail, and shall eat every tree which groweth for you out of 
the field. And they shall fill thy houses, and the houses of 
all thy servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians; which 
neither thy fathers, nor thy fathers' fathers have seen, since 
the day that they were upon the earth unto this day^ And 
he turned himself, and went out from Pharaoh. 

And Pharaoh's servants said unto him, How long shall 


The Plague of 
Locusts 


79 


this man be a snare unto us ? Let the men go, that they may 
serve the Lord their God. Knowest thou not yet that Egypt 
is destroyed? 

And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh. 
And he said unto them, Go, serve the Lord your God. But 
who are they that shall go ? 

And Moses said, We will go with our young and with our 
old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks 
and with our herds will we go ; for we must hold a feast unto 
the Lord. 

And he said unto them, Let the Lord be so with you, as 
I will let you go, and your little ones. Look to it ; for evil is 
before you. Not so; go now ye that are men, and serve the 
Lord ; for that ye did desire. And they were driven out from 
Pharaoh's presence. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand 
over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up 
upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even 
all that the hail hath left. 

And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of 
Egypt. And the Lord brought an east wind upon the land 
all that day, and all that night ; and when it was morning, the 
east wind brought the locusts. And the locusts went up over 
all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt. 
Very grievous were they; before them there were no such 
locusts as they, neither after them shall be such. For they 
covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was 
darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all 
the fruit of the trees which the hail had left. And there 
remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs 
of the field, through all the land of Egypt. 

Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste. And 
he said, I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against 
you. Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this 


80 


once, and entreat the Lord your God, that he may take away 
from me this death only. 

And he went out from Pharaoh, and entreated the Lord. 
And the Lord turned a mighty strong west wind, which took 
away the locusts, and cast them into the Red sea; there 
remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt. But the 
Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the 
children of Israel go. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand 
toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of 
Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. 

And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven. And 
there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. 
They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for 
three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their 
dwellings. 

And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve 
the Lord. Only let your flocks and your herds be stayed. Let 
your little ones also go with you. 

And Moses said, Thou must give us also sacrifices and 
burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the Lord our God. 
Our cattle also shall go with us ; there shall not a hoof be left 
behind ; for thereof must we take to serve the Lord our God ; 
and we know not with what we must serve the Lord, until we 
come thither. 

But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would 
not let them go. And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from 
me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more ; for in that day 
thou seest my face thou shalt die. 

And Moses said, Thou hast spoken well. I will see thy 
face again no more. 

11 And the Lord said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague 
more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt. Afterwards he will 
let you go hence. When he shall let you go, he shall surely 
thrust you out hence altogether. Speak now in the ears of the 


The Plague of 
Darkness 


81 


people, and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every 
woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold. 
And the Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyp- 
tians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land 
of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants, and in the sight 
of the people. 

And Moses said, Thus saith the Lord, About midnight 
will I go out into the midst of Egypt. And all the firstborn 
in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh 
that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the 
maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of 
beasts. And there shall be a great cry throughout all the 
land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like 
it any more. But against any of the children of Israel shall 
not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast ; that ye may 
know how that the Lord doth put a difference between the 
Egyptians and Israel. And all these thy servants shall come 
down unto me, and bow down themselves unto me, saying, Get 
thee out, and all the people that follow thee. And after that 
I will go out. And he went out from Pharaoh in a great 
anger. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken 
unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of 
Egypt. 

And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pha- 
raoh. And the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he 
would not let the children of Israel go out of his land. 

The institution 12 And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of 
of the Passover Egypt, saying, This month shall be unto you the beginning 
of months ; it shall be the first month of the year to you. 

Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In 
the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man 
a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for a 
house. And if the household be too little for the lamb, let 
him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according 


82 


to the number of the souls ; every man according to his eating 
shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be 
without blemish, a male of the first year. Ye shall take it out 
from the sheep, or from the goats. And ye shall keep it up 
until the fourteenth day of the same month. And the whole 
assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the 
evening. And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on 
the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses 
wherein they shall eat it. And they shall eat the flesh in that 
night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter 
herbs they shall eat it. Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all 
with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and 
with the purtenance thereof. And ye shall let nothing of it 
remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it 
until the morning ye shall burn with fire. 

And thus shall ye eat it: with your loins girded, your 
shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand ; and ye shall 
eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s passover. For I will pass 
through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the 
firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and 
against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment. I am 
the Lord. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the 
houses where ye are. And when I see the blood, I will pass 
over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, 
when I smite the land of Egypt. And this day shall be unto 
you for a memorial ; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord 
throughout your generations ; ye shall keep it a feast by an 
ordinance for ever. Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread ; 
even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses. 
For whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until 
the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. And in 
the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and in the 
seventh day there shall be a holy convocation to you ; no 
manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every 
man must eat, that only may be done of you. And ye shall 
observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame 


83 


day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt; 
therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by 
an ordinance for ever. 

In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month 
at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread until the one and 
twentieth day of the month at even. Seven days shall there 
be no leaven found in your houses ; for whosoever eateth that 
which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the 
congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born 
in the land. Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habita- 
tions shall ye eat unleavened bread. 

Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said 
unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your 
families, and kill the passover. And ye shall take a bunch 
of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and 
strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is 
in the basin ; and none of you shall go out at the door of his 
house until the morning. For the Lord will pass through to 
smite the Egyptians. And when he seeth the blood upon the 
lintel, and on the two side posts, the Lord will pass over the 
door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your 
houses to smite you. And ye shall observe this thing for an 
ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever. And it shall come 
to pass, when ye be come to the land which the Lord will give 
you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this 
service. And it shall come to pass, when your children shall 
say unto you, What mean ye by this service? that you shall 
say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s passover, who passed over 
the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote 
the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. 

And the people bowed the head and worshipped. 

And the children of Israel went away, and did as the 
Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. 

And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all 
the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pha- 
raoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive 


84 


that was in the dungeon ; and all the firstborn of cattle. And 
Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and 
all the Egyptians. And there was a great cry in Egypt; for 
there was not a house where there was not one dead. 


The Israelites Go Out of Egypt 

(Chapter XII, vs. 31-42, and XIV, vs . 5-31) 

12 And Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron by night, and 
said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both 
ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as ye 
have said. Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have 
said, and be gone ; and bless me also. And the Egyptians were 
urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the 
land in haste. For they said, We be all dead men. And the 
people took their dough before it was leavened, their knead- 
ing-troughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoul- 
ders. And the children of Israel did according to the word of 
Moses ; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, 
and jewels of gold, and raiment. And the Lord gave the 
people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent 
unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled 
the Egyptians. 

And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to 
Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, 
beside children. And a mixed multitude went up also with 
them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle. And 
they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought 
forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened ; because they were 
thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they 
prepared for themselves any victuals. 

Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt 
in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. And it came 
to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even 
the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the 


85 


Lord went out from the land of Egypt. It is a night to be 
much observed unto the Lord for bringing them out from the 
land of Egypt: this is that night of the Lord to be observed 
of all the children of Israel in their generations. 

* * * * * 

14 And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled. 
And the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned 
against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, 
that we have let Israel go from serving us? And he made 
ready his chariot, and took his people with him. And he took 
six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, 
and captains over every one of them. And the Lord hardened 
the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the 
children of Israel. And the children of Israel went out with 
a high hand. But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the 
horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his 
army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside 
Pi-hahiroth, before Baal-zephon. 

And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel 
lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after 
them. And they were sore afraid ; and the children of Israel 
cried out unto the Lord. And they said unto Moses, Because 
there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to 
die in the wilderness? Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with 
us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that 
we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may 
serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve 
the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. 

And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, 
and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you 
today; for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall 
see them again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for 
you, and ye shall hold your peace. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou 
unto me? Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go 

86 


forward. But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand 
over the sea, and divide it. And the children of Israel shall 
go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. And I, 
behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they 
shall follow them. And I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, 
and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horse- 
men. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, 
when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his char- 
iots, and upon his horsemen. 

And the Angel of God, which went before the camp of 
Israel, removed and went behind them. And the pillar of the 
cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them; 
and it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp 
of Israel ; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave 
light by night to these; so that the one came not near the 
other all the night. And Moses stretched out his hand over 
the sea. And the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong 
east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the 
waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the 
midst of the sea upon the dry ground ; and the waters were a 
wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. 

And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to 
the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, 
and his horsemen. And it came to pass, that in the morning 
watch the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians through 
the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the 
Egyptians, and took off their chariot wheels, that they drave 
them heavily. So that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from 
the face of Israel ; for the Lord fighteth for them against the 
Egyptians. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand 
over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the 
Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. 

And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the 
sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared. And 
the Egyptians fled against it. And the Lord overthrew the 

87 


Passage of the 
Red Sea 


Egyptians in the midst of the sea. And the waters returned, 
and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host 
of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them ; there remained 
not so much as one of them. But the children of Israel 
walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea ; and the waters 
were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. 
Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the 
Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea 
shore. And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did 
upon the Egyptians. And the people feared the Lord, and 
believed the Lord, and his servant Moses. 


The Song of Moses 

(Chapter XV, vs. 1-21) 

Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto 
the Lord, and spake, saying, 

I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously : 
The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. 

The Lord is my strength and song, 

And he is become my salvation; 

He is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; 
My father's God, and I will exalt him. 

The Lord is a man of war: 

The Lord is his name. 

Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the 
sea; 

His chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea. 

The depths have covered them; 

They sank into the bottom as a stone. 

Thy right hand, 0 Lord, is become glorious in power: 
Thy right hand, 0 Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy. 

88 


And in the greatness of thine excellency 

Thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: 

Thou sentest forth thy wrath, 

Which consumed them as stubble. 

And with the blast of thy nostrils 
The waters were gathered together; 

The floods stood upright as an heap, 

And the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea. 

The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, 

I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon 
them; 

I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them. 

Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: 
They sank as lead in the mighty waters. 

Who is like unto thee, 0 Lord, among the gods? 

Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, 

Fearful in praises, doing wonders? 

Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, 

The earth swallowed them. 

Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou 
hast redeemed; 

Thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy 
habitation. 

The people shall hear and be afraid : 

Sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina. 

Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; 

The mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon 
them ; 

All the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away. 

Fear and dread shall fall upon them; 

By the greatness of thine arm 
They shall be as still as a stone; 


89 


Till thy people pass over, 0 Lord, 

Till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased. 

Thou shalt bring them in, 

And plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, 

In the place, 0 Lord, which thou hast made for thee to 
dwell in, 

In the sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have 
established. 

The Lord shall reign for ever and ever. 

For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and 
with his horsemen into the sea, and the Lord brought again 
the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel 
went on dry land in the midst of the sea. And Miriam the 
prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; 
and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with 
dances. And Miriam answered them, 

Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously : 

The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. 


The Ten Commandments 

(Chapter XX, vs. 1-17) 

And God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord 
thy God which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of 
the house of bondage. 

Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any 
likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is 
in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the 
earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor 
serve them. For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, 
visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children 


90 


unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate 
me ; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love 
me and keep my commandments. 

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain ; 
for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his 
name in vain. 

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt 
thou labor, and do all thy work. But the seventh day 
is the sabbath of the Lord thy God. In it thou shalt not 
do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy 
manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy 
stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the 
Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in 
them is, and rested the seventh day. Wherefore the Lord 
blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it. 

Honour thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be 
long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. 

Thou shalt not kill. 

Thou shalt not commit adultery. 

Thou shalt not steal. 

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. 

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not 
covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his 
maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that 
is thy neighbour's. 


Aaron and the Golden Calf 

(Chapter XXXII) 

And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come 
down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves to- 


91 


gether unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, 
which shall go before us ; for as for this Moses, the man that 
brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is 
become of him. 

And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden ear- 
rings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and 
of your daughters, and bring them unto me. 

And all the people brake off the golden earrings which 
were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. And he 
received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving 
tool, after he had made it a molten calf. And they said. 
These be thy gods, 0 Israel, which brought thee up out of 
the land of Egypt. And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar 
before it. And Aaron made proclamation, and said, To 
morrow is a feast to the Lord. And they rose up early on 
the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace 
offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and 
rose up to play. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for 
thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt 
have corrupted themselves. They have turned aside quickly 
out of the way which I commanded them. They have made 
them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacri- 
ficed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, 0 Israel, which 
have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And the 
Lord said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, 
it is a stiffnecked people. Now therefore let me alone, that 
my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may con- 
sume them. And I will make of thee a great nation. 

And Moses besought the Lord his God, and said, Lord, 
why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou 
hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, 
and with a mighty hand? Wherefore should the Egyptians 
speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay 
them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face 
of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of 

92 


this evil against thy people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and 
Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, 
and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars 
of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give 
unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever. 

And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to 
do unto his people. 

And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and 
the two tables of the testimony were in his hand. The tables 
were written on both their sides ; on the one side and on the 
other were they written. And the tables were the work of 
God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon 
the tables. And when Joshua heard the noise of the people 
as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war 
in the camp. And he said, It is not the voice of them that 
shout for mastery; neither is it the voice of them that cry 
for being overcome; but the noise of them that sing do I 
hear. And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the 
camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing. And Moses’ 
anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, 
and brake them beneath the mount. And he took the calf 
which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground 
it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the 
children of Israel drink of it. 

And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto 
thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them? 

And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot. 
Thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief. For 
they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us; 
for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of 
the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. And 
I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break 
it off. So they gave it me; then I cast it into the fire, and 
there came out this calf. 

And when Moses saw that the people were naked (for 
Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their 

93 


enemies) ; then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, 
Who is on the Lord's side? Let him come unto me. And 
all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. 
And he said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, 
Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from 
gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his 
brother, and every man his companion, and every man his 
neighbour. And the children of Levi did according to the 
word of Moses; and there fell of the people that day about 
three thousand men. For Moses had said, Consecrate your- 
selves to day to the Lord, even every man upon his son, and 
upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing 
this day. 

And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto 
the people, Ye have sinned a great sin. And now I will go 
up unto the Lord. Peradventure I shall make an atonement 
for your sin. And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, 
Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them 
gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin — ; and 
if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast 
written. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned 
against me, him will I blot out of my book. Therefore, now 
go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken 
unto thee. Behold, mine Angel shall go before thee. Never- 
theless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them. 

And the Lord plagued the people, because they made the 
calf, which Aaron made. 


NUMBERS 


The Story of Balaam 

(Chapter XXII— Chapter XXIV arid Chapter XXXI , vs. 7,8) 

22 And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in 
the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho. 

And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done 
to the Amorites. And Moab was sore afraid of the people, 
because they were many; and Moab was distressed because 
of the children of Israel. And Moab said unto the elders of 
Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round 
about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And 
Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. 
He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor 
to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children 
of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people 
come out from Egypt ; behold, they cover the face of the earth, 
and they abide over against me. Come now, therefore, I pray 
thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me. 
Peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and 
that I may drive them out of the land; for I wot that he 
whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is 
cursed. And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian 
departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and 
they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of 
Balak. 

And Balaam said unto them, Lodge here this night, and 
I will bring you word again, as the Lord shall speak unto me. 

And the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. 


95 


And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are 
these with thee? 

And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king 
of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, Behold, there is a people 
come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth. 
Come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to 
overcome them, and drive them out. 

And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them ; 
thou shalt not curse the people ; for they are blessed. 

And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the 
princes of Balak, Get you into your land; for the Lord re- 
fuseth to give me leave to go with you. 

And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto 
Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us. 

And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more hon- 
ourable than they. And they came to Balaam, and said to him, 
Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, 
hinder thee from coming unto me. For I will promote thee 
unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest 
unto me. Come, therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people. 

And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of 
Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and 
gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do 
less or more. Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here 
this night, that I may know what the Lord will say unto 
me more. 

And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, 
If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them ; but 
yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do. 

And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his 
ass, and went with the princes of Moab. And God's anger 
was kindled because he went ; and the angel of the Lord stood 
in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding 
upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. And the 
ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his 

96 


sword drawn in his hand. And the ass turned aside out of 
the way, and went into the field. And Balaam smote the ass, 
to turn her into the way. But the angel of the Lord stood 
in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a 
wall on that side. And when the ass saw the angel of the 
Lord, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s 
foot against the wall. And he smote her again. And the 
angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place, 
where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or 
to the left. And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she 
fell down under Balaam. And Balaam’s anger was kindled, 
and he smote the ass with a staff. 

And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said 
unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast 
smitten me these three times? 

And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked 
me, I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would 
I kill thee. 

And the ass said unto Balaam, Am I not thine ass, upon 
which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? 
Was I ever wont to do so unto thee? 

And he said, Nay. 

Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw 
the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword 
drawn in his hand. And he bowed down his head, and fell 
flat on his face. 

And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Wherefore hast 
thou smitten thine ass these three times ? Behold, I went out 
to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me. 
And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times. 
Unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain 
thee and saved her alive. 

And Balaam said unto the angel of the Lord, I have 
sinned ; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against 


97 


me. Now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back 
again. 

And the angel of the Lord said unto Balaam, Go with the 
men ; but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou 
shalt speak. 

So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. 

And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went 
out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border 
of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast. And Balak said unto 
Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? 
Wherefore earnest thou not unto me? Am I not able indeed 
to promote thee to honour? 

And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee. 
Have I now any power at all to say anything? The word 
that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak. 

And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto 
Kirjath-huzoth. And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent 
to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him. And it 
came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and 
brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he 
might see the utmost part of the people. 

23 And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, 
and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams. And Balak 
did as Balaam had spoken ; and Balak and Balaam offered on 
every altar a bullock and a ram. And Balaam said unto 
Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go. Perad- 
venture the Lord will come to meet me; and whatsoever he 
sheweth me I will tell thee. And he w T ent to an high place. 
And God met Balaam. And Balaam said unto him, I have 
prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon every altar 
a bullock and a ram. And the Lord put a word in Balaam’s 
mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt 
speak. And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his 
burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab. And he 
took up his parable, and said, 


98 


Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, 

Out of the mountains of the east, saying, 

Come, curse me Jacob, 

And come, defy Israel. 

How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? 

Or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied? 

For from the top of the rocks I see him, 

And from the hills I behold him. 

Lo, the people shall dwell alone, 

And shall not be reckoned among the nations. 

Who can count the dust of Jacob, 

And the number of the fourth part of Israel? 

Let me die the death of the righteous, 

And let my last end be like his! 

And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto 
me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou 
hast blessed them altogether. 

And Balaam answered and said, Must I not take heed to 
speak that which the Lord hath put in my mouth? 

And Balak said unto him, Come, I pray thee, with me 
unto another place, from whence thou mayest see them. Thou 
shalt see but the utmost part of them, and shalt not see them 
all. And curse me them from thence. And he brought him 
into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven 
altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar. And 
he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy burnt offering, while I 
meet the Lord yonder. And the Lord met Balaam, and put a 
word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say 
thus. And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his 
burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak 
said unto him, What hath the Lord spoken? And he took 
up his parable, and said, 


99 


Rise up, Balak, and hear ; 

Hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor. 

God is not a man, that he should lie ; 

Neither the son of man, that he should repent. 

Hath he said, and shall he not do it? 

Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? 

Behold, I have received commandment to bless; 

And he hath blessed ; and I cannot reverse it. 

He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, 

Neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel. 

The Lord his God is with him, 

And the shout of a king is among them. 

God brought them out of Egypt. 

He hath as it were the strength of an unicorn. 

Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, 

Neither is there any divination against Israel. 
According to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of 
Israel, 

What hath God wrought ! 

Behold the people shall rise up as a great lion, 

And lift up himself as a young lion. 

He shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, 

And drink the blood of the slain. 

And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, 
nor bless them at all. 

But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I 
thee, saying, All that the Lord speaketh, that must I do ? 

And Balak said unto Balaam, Come, I pray thee, I will 
bring thee unto another place; peradventure it will please 
God that thou mayest curse me them from thence. And 
Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh 
toward Jeshimon. And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me 


100 


here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and 
seven rams. And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered 
a bullock and a ram on every altar. 

24 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless 
Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchant- 
ments, but he set his face toward the wilderness. And 
Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his 
tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came 
upon him. And he took up his parable, and said, 

Balaam the son of Beor hath said, 

And the man whose eyes are open hath said ; 

He hath said, which heard the words of God, 

Which saw the vision of the Almighty, 

Falling into a trance, but having his eyes open : 

How goodly are thy tents, 0 Jacob, 

And thy tabernacles, 0 Israel! 

As the valleys are they spread forth, 

As gardens by the river's side, 

As the trees of lign aloes which the Lord hath planted, 
And as cedar trees beside the waters. 

He shall pour the water out of his buckets, 

And his seed shall be in many waters, 

And his king shall be higher than Agag, 

And his kingdom shall be exalted. 

God brought him forth out of Egypt. 

He hath as it were the strength of an unicorn. 

He shall eat up the nations his enemies, 

And shall break their bones, 

And pierce them through with his arrows. 

He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion. 
Who shall stir him up? 

Blessed is he that blesseth thee, 

And cursed is he that curseth thee. 


101 


And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he 
smote his hands together. And Balak said unto Balaam, I 
called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast alto- 
gether blessed them these three times. Therefore now flee 
thou to thy place. I thought to promote thee unto great 
honour; but, lo, the Lord hath kept thee back from honour. 

And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy 
messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying, If Balak 
would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go 
beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or 
bad of mine own mind; but what the Lord saith, that will I 
speak? And now, behold, I go unto my people. Come there- 
fore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to 
thy people in the latter days. And he took up his parable, 
and said, 

Balaam the son of Beor hath said, 

And the man whose eyes are open hath said, 

He hath said, which heard the words of God, 

And knew the knowledge of the most high, 

Which saw the vision of the Almighty, 

Falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: 

I shall see him, but not now; 

I shall behold him, but not nigh. 

There shall come a Star out of Jacob, 

And a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, 

And shall smite the corners of Moab, 

And destroy all the children of Sheth. 

And Edom shall be a possession, 

Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies ; 

And Israel shall do valiantly. 

Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, 

And shall destroy him that remaineth of the city. 


102 


And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, 
and said, 

Amalek was the first of the nations ; 

But his latter end shall be that he perish for ever. 

And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, 
and said, 

Strong is thy dwelling place, 

And thou puttest thy nest in a rock. 

Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, 

Until Asshur shall carry thee away captive. 

And he took up his parable, and said, 

Alas, who shall live when God doeth this ! 

And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, 

And shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, 

And he also shall perish for ever. 

And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place. 
And Balak also went his way. 

***** 

31 And the Israelites warred against the Midianites, as the 
Lord commanded Moses; and they slew all the males. And 
they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that 
were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and 
Reba, five kings of Midian. Balaam also the son of Beor they 
slew with the sword. 


DEUTERONOMY 


The Song of Moses 

(Chapter XXXII , vs. 1-1*3) 

Give ear, 0 ye heavens, and I will speak ; 

And hear, 0 earth, the words of my mouth. 

My doctrine shall drop as the rain, 

My speech shall distil as the dew, 

As the small rain upon the tender herb, 

And as the showers upon the grass. 

Because I will publish the name of the Lord ; 
Ascribe ye greatness unto our God. 

He is the Rock, his work is perfect; 

For all his ways are judgment. 

A God of truth and without iniquity, 

Just and right is he. 

They have corrupted themselves, 

Their spot is not the spot of his children, 
They are a perverse and crooked generation. 

Do ye thus requite the Lord, 

0 foolish people and unwise? 

Is not he thy father that hath bought thee? 
Hath he not made thee, and established thee? 

Remember the days of old, 

Consider the years of many generations. 

Ask thy father, and he will shew thee ; 

Thy elders, and they will tell thee. 


104 


When the Most High divided to the nations their in- 
heritance, 

When he separated the sons of Adam, 

He set the bounds of the people 

According to the number of the children of Israel. 

For the Lord's portion is his people; 

Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. 

He found him in a desert land, 

And in the waste howling wilderness ; 

He led him about, he instructed him, 

He kept him as the apple of his eye. 

As an eagle stirreth up her nest, 

Fluttereth over her young, 

Spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, 

Beareth them on her wings; 

So the Lord alone did lead him, 

And there was no strange god with him. 

He made him ride on the high places of the earth, 

That he might eat the increase of the fields ; 

And he made him to suck honey out of the rock, 

And oil out of the flinty rock ; 

Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, 

With fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan; 
And goats, with the fat of the kidneys of wheat; 

And thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape. 

But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked. 

Thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, 

Thou art covered with fatness. 

Then he forsook God which made him, 

And lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation. 

They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, 

With abominations provoked they him to anger. 


105 


They sacrificed unto devils, not to God ; 

To gods whom they knew not, 

To new gods that came newly up, 

Whom your fathers feared not. 

Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, 

And hast forgotten God that formed thee. 

And when the Lord saw it, he abhorred them, 

Because of the provoking of his sons, and of his 
daughters. 

And he said, I will hide my face from them, 

I will see what their end shall be. 

For they are a very froward generation, 

Children in whom is no faith. 

They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not 
God ; 

They have provoked me to anger with their vanities ; 
And I will move them to jealousy with those which are 
not a people; 

I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation. 

For a fire is kindled in mine anger, 

And shall burn unto the lowest hell, 

And shall consume the earth with her increase, 

And set on fire the foundations of the mountains. 

I will heap mischiefs upon them; 

I will spend mine arrows upon them. 

They shall be burnt with hunger, 

And devoured with burning heat, 

And with bitter destruction. 

I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, 

With the poison of serpents of the dust. 

The sword without, and terror within, 

Shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, 


106 


The suckling also with the man of gray hairs. 

I said, I would scatter them into corners, 

I would make the remembrance of them to cease from 
among men: 

Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy, 

Lest their adversaries should behave themselves 
strangely, 

And lest they should say, Our hand is high, 

And the Lord hath not done all this. 

For they are a nation void of counsel, 

Neither is there any understanding in them. 

0 that they were wise, that they understood this, 

That they would consider their latter end ! 

How should one chase a thousand, 

And two put ten thousand to flight, 

Except their Rock had sold them, 

And the Lord had shut them up? 

For their rock is not as our Rock, 

Even our enemies themselves being judges. 

For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, 

And of the fields of Gomorrah; 

Their grapes are grapes of gall, 

Their clusters are bitter; 

Their wine is the poison of dragons, 

And the cruel venom of asps. 

Is not this laid up in store with me, 

And sealed up among my treasures? 

To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence ; 

Their foot shall slide in due time ; 

For the day of their calamity is at hand, 

And the things that shall come upon them make haste. 


107 


For the Lord shall judge his people, 

And repent himself for his servants, 

When he seeth that their power is gone, 

And there is none shut up, or left. 

And he shall say, Where are their gods, 

Their rock in whom they trusted, 

Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, 

And drank the wine of their drink offerings? 

Let them rise up and help you, 

And be your protection. 

See now that I, even I, am he, 

And there is no god with me. 

I kill, and I make alive; 

I wound, and I heal; 

Neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand. 

For I lift up my hand to heaven, 

And say, I live for ever. 

If I whet my glittering sword, 

And mine hand take hold on judgment, 

I will render vengeance to mine enemies, 

And will reward them that hate me. 

I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, 

And my sword shall devour flesh; 

And that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, 
From the beginning of revenges upon the enemy. 

Rejoice, 0 ye nations, with his people; 

For he will avenge the blood of his servants, 

And will render vengeance to his adversaries, 

And will be merciful unto his land, and to his people. 


JOSHUA 

The Siege of Jericho 

(Chapter VI, vs. 1-20) 


Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children 
of Israel; none went out, and none came in. And the Lord 
said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, 
and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour. And ye 
shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about 
the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. And seven priests 
shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns ; and 
the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the 
priests shall blow with the trumpets. And it shall come to 
pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, 
and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people 
shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall 
fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man 
straight before him. 

And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said 
unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven 
priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of 
the Lord. And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass 
the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of 
the Lord. 

And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the 
people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of 
rams’ horns passed on before the Lord, and blew with the 
trumpets; and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed 
them. And the armed men went before the priests that blew 
with the trumpets, and the rearward came after the ark, the 

109 


priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets. And Joshua 
had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor 
make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word pro- 
ceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then 
shall ye shout. So the ark of the Lord compassed the city, 
going about it once. And they came into the camp, and 
lodged in the camp. 

And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests 
took up the ark of the Lord. And seven priests bearing seven 
trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord went on 
continually, and blew with the trumpets ; and the armed men 
went before them ; but the rearward came after the ark of the 
Lord, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets. 
And the second day they compassed the city once, and re- 
turned into the camp. So they did six days. And it came to 
pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawn- 
ing of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner 
seven times ; only on that day they compassed the city seven 
times. And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the 
priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, 
Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city. 

And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are 
therein, to the Lord ; only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and 
all that are with her in the house, because she hid the mes- 
sengers that we sent. And ye, in any wise keep yourselves 
from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, 
when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of 
Israel a curse, and trouble it. But all the silver, and gold, 
and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the Lord ; 
they shall come into the treasury of the Lord. 

So the people shouted when the priests blew with the 
trumpets. And it came to pass, when the people heard the 
sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great 
shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went 
up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took 
the city. 


110 


JUDGES 

The Song of Deborah 

( Chapter V ) 

Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on 
that day, saying, 

Praise ye the Lord for the avenging of Israel, 

When the people willingly offered themselves. 

Hear, 0 ye kings; give ear, 0 ye princes; 

I, even I, will sing unto the Lord ; 

I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel. 

Lord, when thou wentest out of Seir, 

When thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, 

The earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, 

The clouds also dropped water. 

The mountains melted from before the Lord, 

Even that Sinai from before the Lord God of Israel. 

In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, 

In the days of Jael, 

The highways were unoccupied, 

And the travellers walked through byways. 

The inhabitants of the villages ceased, 

They ceased in Israel, 

Until that I Deborah arose, 

That I arose a mother in Israel. 

They chose new gods; 

Then was war in the gates. 

Ill 


Was there a shield or spear 

Seen among forty thousand in Israel? 

My heart is toward the governors of Israel, 

That offered themselves willingly among the people. 

Bless ye the Lord. 

Speak, ye that ride on white asses, 

Ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way. 

They that are delivered from the noise of archers 
In the places of drawing water, 

There shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the Lord, 
Even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his 
villages in Israel. 

Then shall the people of the Lord go down to the gates. 

Awake, awake, Deborah; 

Awake, awake, utter a song; 

Arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, 

Thou son of Abinoam. 

Then he made him that remaineth 

Have dominion over the nobles among the people; 

The Lord made me have dominion over the mighty. 

Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek ; 
After thee, Benjamin, among thy people; 

Out of Machir came down governors; 

And out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the 
writer. 

And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; 

Even Issachar, and also Barak: 

He was sent on foot into the valley. 

For the divisions of Reuben 
There were great thoughts of heart. 


112 


Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, 

To hear the bleatings of the flocks? 

For the divisions of Reuben 
There were great searchings of heart. 

Gilead abode beyond Jordan; 

And why did Dan remain in ships? 

Asher continued on the sea shore, 

And abode in his breaches. 

Zebulun and Naphtali were a people 
That jeoparded their lives unto the death 
In the high places of the field. 

The kings came and fought, 

Then fought the kings of Canaan 
In Taanach by the waters of Megiddo ; 

They took no gain of money. 

They fought from heaven; 

The stars in their courses fought against Sisera. 

The river of Kishon swept them away, 

That ancient river, the river Kishon. 

0 my soul, thou hast trodden down strength. 

Then were the horsehoofs broken 
By the means of the prancings, 

The prancings of their mighty ones. 

Curse ye, Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, 

Curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; 

Because they came not to the help of the Lord, 

To the help of the Lord against the mighty. 

Blessed among women shall Jael the wife of Heber the 
Kenite be, 

Blessed shall she be above women in the tent. 


113 


He asked water, and she gave him milk ; 

She brought forth butter in a lordly dish. 

She put her hand to the nail, 

And her right hand to the workman's hammer; 

And with the hammer she smote Sisera, 

She smote off his head, 

When she had pierced and stricken through his temples. 

At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down ; 

At her feet he bowed, he fell; 

Where he bowed, there he fell down dead. 

The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, 

And cried through the lattice, 

Why is his chariot so long in coming? 

Why tarry the wheels of his chariots? 

Her wise ladies answered her, 

Yea, she returned answer to herself, 

Have they not sped? 

Have they not divided the prey; 

To every man a damsel or two ; 

To Sisera a prey of divers colours, 

A prey of divers colours of needlework, 

Of divers colours of needlework on both sides, 

Meet for the necks of them that take the spoil ? 

So let all thine enemies perish, 0 Lord ; 

But let them that love him be as the sun 
When he goeth forth in his might. 


Jotham’s Parable 

( Chapter IX, vs. 7-21 ) 

And when they told it [the making of Abimelech king] 
to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, 
and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken 

114 


unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you. 

The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over 
them ; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us. 
But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, 
wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be pro- 
moted over the trees? And the trees said to the fig tree, 
Come thou, and reign over us. But the fig tree said unto 
them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and 
go to be promoted over the trees? Then said the trees unto 
the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. And the vine said 
unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and 
man, and go to be promoted over the trees ? Then said all the 
trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. And 
the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king 
over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow ; and if 
not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars 
of Lebanon. 

Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in 
that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well 
with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him accord- 
ing to the deserving of his hands (For my father fought for 
you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the 
hand of Midian. And ye are risen up against my father's 
house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten 
persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son 
of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because 
he is your brother) ; if ye then have dealt truly and sincerely 
with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye 
in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you. But if not, let 
fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of She- 
chem, and the house of Millo ; and let fire come out from the 
men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour 
Abimelech. 

And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and 
dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother. 


115 


Jephthah’s Rash Vow 

( Chapter XI, vs. 29-39) 

Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, and he 
passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh 
of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the 
children of Ammon. 

And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the Lord, and said, If 
thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into 
mine hands, then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth 
of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace 
from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord's, and 
I will offer it up for a burnt offering. 

So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to 
fight against them; and the Lord delivered them into his 
hands. And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come 
to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vine- 
yards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the children of 
Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel. 

And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, be- 
hold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and 
with dances. And she was his only child. Beside her he had 
neither son nor daughter. And it came to pass, when he saw 
her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! 
Thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them 
that trouble me ; for I have opened my mouth unto the Lord, 
and I cannot go back. 

And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened 
thy mouth unto the Lord, do to me according to that which 
hath proceeded out of thy mouth ; forasmuch as the Lord hath 
taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the chil- 
dren of Ammon. And she said unto her father, Let this thing 
be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may go up 
and down upon the mountains and bewail my virginity, I and 
my fellows. 


116 


And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months. 
And she went with her companions, and bewailed her vir- 
ginity upon the mountains. And it came to pass at the end 
of two months, that she returned unto her father, who did 
with her according to his vow which he had vowed. 


The Story of Samson 

(Chapter XIV— Chapter XVI) 


14 And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman 
in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines. And he came 
up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen 
a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines. 
Now therefore get her for me to wife. 

Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there 
never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or 
among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the 
uncircumcised Philistines ? 

And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for 
she pleaseth me well. 

But his father and his mother knew not that it was of 
the Lord, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines ; 
for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel. 

Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, 
to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath. And, 
behold, a young lion roared against him. And the Spirit of 
the Lord came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he 
would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand. But 
he told not his father or his mother what he had done. And 
he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased 
Samson well. 

And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned 
aside to see the carcass of the lion; and, behold, there was a 


117 


Samson’s Riddle 


swarm of bees and honey in the carcass of the lion. And he 
took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to 
his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat. 
But he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the 
carcass of the lion. 

So his father went down unto the woman. And Samson 
made there a feast ; for so used the young men to do. And it 
came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty 
companions to be with him. 

And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a rid- 
dle unto you. If ye can certainly declare it me within the 
seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you 
thirty sheets and thirty change of garments. But if ye can- 
not declare it me, then shall ye give me thirty sheets and 
thirty change of garments. 

And they said unto him, Put forth thy riddle, that we 
may hear it. 

And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, 
and out of the strong came forth sweetness. 

And they could not in three days expound the riddle. 

And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said 
unto Samson's wife, Entice thy husband, that he may declare 
unto us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father’s house 
with fire. Have ye called us to take that we have? Is it not 
so? 

And Samson’s wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost 
but hate me, and lovest me not. Thou hast put forth a riddle 
unto the children of my people, and hast not told it me. 

And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told it my father 
nor my mother, and shall I tell it thee? 

And she wept before him the seven days, while their feast 
lasted. And it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told 
her, because she lay sore upon him. And she told the riddle 
to the children of her people. And the men of the city said 


118 


unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What 
is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion? 

And he said unto them, If ye had not ploughed with my 
heifer, ye had not found out my riddle. 

And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he went 
down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took 
their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which 
expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he 
went up to his father’s house. But Samson’s wife was given 
to his companion, whom he had used as his friend. 

15 But it came to pass within a while after, in the time of 
wheat harvest, that Samson visited his wife with a kid; and 
he said, I will go in to my wife into the chamber. But her 
father would not suffer him to go in. And her father said, I 
verily thought that thou hadst utterly hated her ; therefore, I 
gave her to thy companion. Is not her younger sister fairer 
than she? Take her, I pray thee, instead of her. 

And Samson said concerning them, Now shall I be more 
blameless than the Philistines, though I do them a displeasure. 
And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took 
firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the 
midst between two tails. And when he had set the brands 
on fire, he let them go into the standing corn of the Philistines, 
and burnt up both the shocks, and also the standing corn, with 
the vineyards and olives. 

Then the Philistines said, Who hath done this? 

And they answered, Samson, the son in law of the Tim- 
nite, because he had taken his wife, and given her to his 
companion. 

And the Philistines came up, and burnt her and her 
father with fire. 

And Samson said unto them, Though ye have done this, 
yet will I be avenged of you, and after that I will cease. And 
he smote them hip and thigh with a great slaughter. And 
he went down and dwelt in the top of the rock Etam. 


Samson and the 
Philistines 


119 


Then the Philistines went up, and pitched in Judah, and 
spread themselves in Lehi. And the men of Judah said, Why 
are ye come up against us? 

And they answered, To bind Samson are we come up, to 
do to him as he hath done to us. Then three thousand men 
of Judah went to the top of the rock Etam, and said to Sam- 
son, Knowest thou not that the Philistines are rulers over 
us? What is this that thou hast done unto us? 

And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so have I 
done unto them. 

And they said unto him, We are come down to bind thee, 
that we may deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines. 

And Samson said unto them, Swear unto me, that ye will 
not fall upon me yourselves. 

And they spake unto him, saying, No; but we will bind 
thee fast, and deliver thee into their hand ; but surely we will 
not kill thee. And they bound him with two new cords, and 
brought him up from the rock. 

And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted 
against him. And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon 
him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax 
that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his 
hands. And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth 
his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith. 
And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon 
heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men. 
And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking, 
that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand, and called 
that place Ramath-lehi. 

And he was sore athirst, and called on the Lord, and said, 
Thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy 
servant ; and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand 
of the uncircumcised ? But God clave a hollow place that was 
in the jaw, and there came water thereout. And when he had 
drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived. Wherefore he 


120 


called the name thereof En-hakkore, which is in Lehi unto 
this day. 

And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines 
twenty years. 

16 Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there a harlot, and 
went in unto her. And it was told the Gazites, saying, Sam- 
son is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid 
wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet 
all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall 
kill him. And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at mid- 
night, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two 
posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them 
upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of a hill 
that is before Hebron. 

And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman 
in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. 

And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and 
said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength 
lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that 
we may bind him to afflict him; and we will give thee every 
one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver. 

And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein 
thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be 
bound to afflict thee. 

And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven 
green withs that were never dried, then shall I be weak, and 
be as another man. 

Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven 
green withs which had not been dried, and she bound him 
with them. Now there were men lying in wait, abiding with 
her in the chamber. And she said unto him, The Philistines 
be upon thee, Samson. And he brake the withs, as a thread 
of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength 
was not known. 

And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked 


Samson and 
Delilah 


121 


me, and told me lies. Now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith 
thou mightest be bound. 

And he said unto her, If they bind me fast with new ropes 
that never were occupied, then shall I be weak, and be as 
another man. 

Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him there- 
with, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Sam- 
son. And there were liers in wait abiding in the chamber. 
And he brake them from off his arms like a thread. 

And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast 
mocked me, and told me lies. Tell me wherewith thou might- 
est be bound? 

And he said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of 
my head with the web. 

And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, 
The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awaked out 
of his sleep, and went away with the pin of the beam, and 
with the web. 

And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, 
when thine heart is not with me? Thou hast mocked me 
these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great 
strength lieth. 

And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her 
words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death, 
that he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath 
not come a razor upon mine head. For I have been a Nazar- 
ite unto God from my mother’s womb. If I be shaven, then 
my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and 
be like any other man. 

And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, 
she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, 
Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then 
the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought 
money in their hand. And she made him sleep upon her 
knees ; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave 


122 


off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, 
and his strength went from him. And she said, The Philis- 
tines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, 
and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake 
myself. And he wist not that the Lord was departed from 
him. 

But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and 
brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of 
brass. And he did grind in the prison house. Howbeit the 
hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven. 
Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for 
to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice. 
For they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into 
our hand. And when the people saw him, they praised their 
god. For they said, Our god hath delivered into our hands 
our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, which slew 
many of us. And it came to pass, when their hearts were 
merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us 
sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house. 
And he made them sport. And they set him between the 
pillars. And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the 
hand, Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the 
house standeth, that I may lean upon them. Now the house 
was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philis- 
tines were there; and there were upon the roof about three 
thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made 
sport. And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, 0 Lord 
God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray 
thee, only this once, 0 God, that I may be at once avenged of 
the Philistines for my two eyes. And Samson took hold of the 
two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which 
it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the 
other with his left. And Samson said, Let me die with the 
Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and 
the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that 


The Death of 
Samson 


123 


were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were 
more than they which he slew in his life. 

Then his brethren and all the house of his father came 
down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him 
between Zorah and Eshtaol in the buryingplace of Manoah 
his father. 

And he judged Israel twenty years. 


THE BOOK OF RUTH 


Whatever may have been the purpose of the author or the signifi- 
cance of the story to the Jews for whom it was written, the Book of 
Ruth appeals to the modern reader as a beautiful idyll of love and 
domestic happiness. Like so many other books of the Bible, the mate- 
rial on which the story is based is drawn from old Hebrew traditions 
by a writer of a later age to instruct his contemporaries. The author 
is unknown, as is likewise the time of composition; and the purpose of 
the book is not clear. Scholars cannot agree as to whether it was written 
shortly before the exile, or during the exile, or after it; though the fifth 
century is the generally accepted time of composition. It may have 
been written to throw light on the genealogy of David, or to uphold the 
sanctity of the practice of marriage with an alien race, or to illustrate 
the ancient Hebrew custom according to which it was the duty of the 
nearest male relative to marry the widow of a man who had died with- 
out male children. 

But all ofi these possibilities lose their interest in the bright light of 
its splendid literary value. It may be regarded as the fairest flower of 
Bible writing. If art here is not conscious, it represents surely the 
nearest approach to perfection in the pure intuitive processes which 
make for beauty of form and strength of emotional appeal. The loving 
devotion of Ruth to Naomi, the sincere affection of Naomi for Ruth, the 
chivalric honest service of Boaz to Ruth and Naomi — these are the ele- 
ments which are so combined as to give spiritual unity to this struc- 
turally perfect short story. 


The Story of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz 

1 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, 
that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of 
Beth-lehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, 
and his wife, and his two sons. And the name of the man was 
Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of 
his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Beth-lehem- 


125 


judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and con- 
tinued there. 

And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, 
and her two sons. And they took them wives of the women 
of Moab ; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the 
other Ruth. And they dwelled there about ten years. And 
Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them. And the woman 
was left of her two sons and her husband. 

Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might 
return from the country of Moab; for she had heard in the 
country of Moab how that the Lord had visited his people in 
giving them bread. Wherefore she went forth out of the 
place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her ; 
and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah. 

And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, 
return each to her mother’s house. The Lord deal kindly with 
you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. The Lord 
grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of 
her husband. Then she kissed them. 

And they lifted up their voice, and wept. And they said 
unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people. 

And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters. Why will 
ye go with me? Are there yet any more sons in my womb, 
that they may be your husbands? Turn again, my daughters, 
go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I 
should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to- 
night, and should also bear sons, would ye tarry for them till 
they were grown ? Would ye stay for them from having hus- 
bands? Nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for 
your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me. 

And they lifted up their voice, and wept again. And 
Orpah kissed her mother in law ; but Ruth clave unto her. 

And Naomi said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back 
unto her people, and unto her gods. Return thou after thy 
sister in law. 


126 


And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return 
from following after thee. For whither thou goest, I will go ; 
and where thou lodgest, I will lodge. Thy people shall be my 
people, and thy God my God. Where thou diest, will I die, 
and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more 
also, if aught but death part thee and me. 

When Naomi saw that Ruth was steadfastly minded to go 
with her, then she left speaking unto her. 

So they two went until they came to Beth-lehem. And it 
came to pass, when they were come to Beth-lehem, that all 
the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi? 

And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me 
Mara ; for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I 
went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again 
empty. Why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath 
testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? 

So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daugh- 
ter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of 
Moab. And they came to Beth-lehem in the beginning of 
barley harvest. 

2 And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty 
man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech ; and his name was 
Boaz. 

And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now 
go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose 
sight I shall find grace. 

And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. 

And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after 
the reapers. And her hap was to light on a part of the field 
belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech. 

And, behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and said unto 
the reapers, The Lord be with you. And they answered him, 
The Lord bless thee. 

Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the 
reapers, Whose damsel is this? 

127 


And the servant that was set over the reapers answered 
and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with 
Naomi out of the country of Moab. And she said, I pray you, 
let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves. 
So she came, and hath continued even from the morning until 
now, that she tarried a little in the house. 

Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daugh- 
ter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, 
but abide here fast by my maidens. Let thine eyes be on the 
field that they do reap, and go thou after them. Have I not 
charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? And 
when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that 
which the young men have drawn. 

Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the 
ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine 
eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am 
a stranger? 

And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been 
shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law 
since the death of thine husband ; and how thou hast left thy 
father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art 
come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. The 
Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee 
of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come 
to trust. 

Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord ; 
for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast 
spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like 
unto one of thine handmaidens. 

And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, 
and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. 

And she sat beside the reapers. And he reached her 
parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left. 

And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded 
his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, 

128 


and reproach her not; and let fall also some of the handfuls 
of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, 
and rebuke her not. 

So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that 
she had gleaned ; and it was about an ephah of barley. And 
she took it up, and went into the city. And her mother in law 
saw what she had gleaned. And she brought forth, and gave 
to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed. 

And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou 
gleaned to day? And where wroughtest thou? Blessed be 
he that did take knowledge of thee. 

And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had 
wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to 
day is Boaz. 

And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he 
of the Lord, who hath not left off his kindness to the living 
and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near 
of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen. 

And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou 
shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all 
my harvest. 

And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, It is 
good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that 
they meet thee not in any other field. 

So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto 
the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest. And she 
dwelt with her mother in law. 

3 Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daugh- 
ter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with 
thee ? And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maid- 
ens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the 
threshing floor. Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and 
put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor; 
but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have 
done eating and drinking. And it shall be, when he lieth 


129 


down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and 
thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; 
and he will tell thee what thou shalt do. 

And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I 
will do. 

And she went down unto the floor, and did according to 
all that her mother in law bade her. 

And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was 
merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn. 
And she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her 
down. And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was 
afraid, and turned himself; and, behold, a woman lay at his 
feet. And he said, Who art thou? 

And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid. Spread 
therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid ; for thou art a near 
kinsman. 

And he said, Blessed be thou of the Lord, my daughter ; 
for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at 
the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, 
whether poor or rich. And now, my daughter, fear not; I 
will do to thee all that thou requirest; for all the city of my 
people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman. And now 
it is true that I am thy near kinsman ; howbeit there is a kins- 
man nearer than I. Tarry this night, and it shall be in the 
morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kins- 
man, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not 
do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a 
kinsman to thee, as the Lord liveth. Lie down until the 
morning. 

And she lay at his feet until the morning. And she rose 
up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not 
be known that a woman came into the floor. Also he said, 
Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And 
when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and 
laid it on her. And she went into the city. 


130 


And when she came to her mother in law, Naomi said. 
Who art thou, my daughter? 

And she told her all that the man had done to her. And 
she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he 
said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law. 

Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know 
how the matter will fall ; for the man will not be in rest, until 
he have finished the thing this day. 

4 Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there. 
And, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by ; unto 
whom he said, Ho, such a one! Turn aside, sit down here. 
And he turned aside, and sat down. And he took ten men of 
the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they 
sat down. And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come 
again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, 
which was our brother Elimelech’s. And I thought to adver- 
tise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before 
the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it ; but 
if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know; 
for there is none to redeem it beside thee ; and I am after thee. 

And he said, I will redeem it. 

Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the 
hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, 
the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon 
his inheritance. 

And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, 
lest I mar mine own inheritance; redeem thou my right to 
thyself ; for I cannot redeem it. Now this was the manner in 
former times in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning 
changing, for to confirm all things, a man plucked off his 
shoe, and gave it to his neighbour; and this was a testimony 
in Israel. Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for 
thee. So he drew off his shoe. 

And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, 
Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was 


131 


Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s, and Mahlon’s, of the 
hand of Naomi. Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of 
Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name 
of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead 
be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate 
of his place. Ye are witnesses this day. 

And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, 
said, We are witnesses. The Lord make the woman that is 
come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two 
did build the house of Israel; and do thou worthily in Eph- 
ratah, and be famous in Beth-lehem. And let thy house be 
like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of 
the seed which the Lord shall give thee of this young woman. 

So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife. And when he 
went in unto her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bare 
a son. And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord, 
which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his 
name may be famous in Israel. And he shall be unto thee a 
restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age ; for thy 
daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee 
than seven sons, hath born him. And Naomi took the child, 
and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it. And the 
women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son 
born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the 
father of Jesse, the father of David. 


THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL 

David Before Saul 

(Chapter XVI, vs. 14-23) 

But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an 
evil spirit from the Lord troubled him. 

And SauPs servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil 
spirit from God troubleth thee. Let our lord now command 
thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who 
is a cunning player on a harp. And it shall come to pass, 
when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play 
with his hand, and thou shalt be well. 

And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man 
that can play well, and bring him to me. 

Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I 
have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, that is cunning in 
playing and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and 
prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the Lord is 
with him. Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and 
said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep. And 
Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and 
a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul. And David 
came to Saul, and stood before him. And he loved him 
greatly. And he became his armourbearer. And Saul sent to 
Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for 
he hath found favour in my sight- 

And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was 
upon Saul, that David took a harp, and played with his hand. 
So Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit de- 
parted from him. 


133 


David and Goliath 

(Chapter XVII, vs. 1-11 and vs. 32-58) 

Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to 
battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belong- 
eth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in 
Ephes-dammim. And Saul and the men of Israel were gath- 
ered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the 
battle in array against the Philistines. And the Philistines 
stood on a mountain on the one side and Israel stood on a 
mountain on the other side; and there was a valley between 
them. 

And there went out a champion out of the camp of the 
Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six 
cubits and a span. And he had a helmet of brass upon his 
head, and he was armed with a coat of mail ; and the weight 
of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. And he had 
greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between 
his shoulders. And the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s 
beam; and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of 
iron ; and one bearing a shield went before him. And he stood 
and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why 
are ye come out to set your battle in array? Am not I a 
Philistine, and ye servants to Saul ? Choose you a man for you, 
and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, 
and to kill me, then will we be your servants ; but if I prevail 
against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and 
serve us. And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel 
this day ; give me a man, that we may fight together. When 
Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they 
were dismayed, and greatly afraid. 

* * * * * 

And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because 
of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. 

And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against 


134 


this Philistine to fight with him; for thou art but a youth, 
and he a man of war from his youth. 

And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's 
sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb 
out of the flock. And I went out after him, and smote him, 
and delivered it out of his mouth. And when he rose against 
me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. 
Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear. And this uncir- 
cumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath 
defied the armies of the living God. David said moreover, 
The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and 
out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand 
of this Philistine. 

And Saul said unto David, Go and the Lord be with thee. 

And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put a 
helmet of brass upon his head ; also he armed him with a coat 
of mail. And David girded his sword upon his armour, and 
he assayed to go ; for he had not proved it. And David said 
unto Saul, I cannot go with these ; for I have not proved them. 
And David put them off him. And he took his staff in his 
hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and 
put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip ; 
and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the 
Philistine. 

And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; 
and the man that bare the shield went before him. And when 
the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him ; 
for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair counte- 
nance. And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that 
thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed 
David by his gods. And the Philistine said to David, Come 
to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and 
to the beasts of the field. 

Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me 
with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield ; but I come 


135 


to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the 
armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the 
Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and 
take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of 
the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, 
and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may 
know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly 
shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear; 
for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our 
hands. 

And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came 
and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran 
toward the army to meet the Philistine. And David put his 
hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and 
smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into 
his forehead ; and he fell upon his face to the earth. So David 
prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, 
and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no 
sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran, and stood 
upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of 
the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head there- 
with. And when the Philistines saw their champion was 
dead, they fled. And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, 
and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to 
the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of 
the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto 
Gath, and unto Ekron. And the children of Israel returned 
from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their 
tents. And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought 
it to Jerusalem ; but he put his armour in his tent. 

And when Saul saw David go forth against the Phil- 
istine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, 
whose son is this youth? 

And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, 0 king, I cannot tell. 


136 


And the king said, Inquire thou whose son the strip- 
ling is. 

And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philis- 
tine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the 
head of the Philistine in his hand. And Saul said to him, 
Whose son art thou, thou young man? 

And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse 
the Beth-lehemite. 


Saul and the Witch of Endor 

(Chapter XXVIII , vs. 7-25) 

Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that 
hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of 
her. 

And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman 
that hath a familiar spirit at En-dor. 

And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, 
and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the 
woman by night. And he said, I pray thee, divine unto me 
by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall 
name unto thee. 

And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest 
what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have 
familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land. Where- 
fore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die? 

And Saul sware to her by the Lord, saying, As the Lord 
liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this 
thing. 

Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? 

And he said, Bring me up Samuel. 

And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud 


137 


voice. And the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou 
deceived me? For thou art Saul. 

And the king said unto her, Be not afraid. For what 
sawest thou? 

And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending 
out of the earth. 

And he said unto her, What form is he of? 

And she said, An old man cometh up ; and he is covered 
with a mantle. 

And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped 
with his face to the ground, and bowed himself. 

And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, 
to bring me up ? 

And Saul answered, I am sore distressed ; for the Philis- 
tines make war against me, and God is departed from me, 
and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by 
dreams. Therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make 
knowm unto me what I shall do. 

Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, 
seeing the Lord is departed from thee, and is become thine 
enemy? And the Lord hath done to him, as he spake by me. 
For the Lord hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and 
given it to thy neighbour, even to David. 

Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the Lord, nor 
executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the 
Lord done this thing unto thee this day. Moreover, the Lord 
will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philis- 
tines. And tomorrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me. 
The Lord also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand 
of the Philistines. 

Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and 
was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel. And there 
was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the 
day, nor all the night. 


138 


And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was 
sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid 
hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, 
and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto 
me. Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the 
voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread 
before thee, and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when 
thou goest on thy way. 

But he refused, and said, I will not eat. 

But his servants, together with the woman, compelled 
him ; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he rose from the 
earth, and sat upon the bed. And the woman had a fat calf 
in the house ; and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and 
kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread thereof. And she 
brought it before Saul, and before his servants ; and they did 
eat. Then they rose up and went away that night. 


THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL 


The Lament of David 

(Chapter I, vs. 17 and vs. 19-37) 

And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul 
and over Jonathan his son: 

The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places. 

How are the mighty fallen ! 

Tell it not in Gath, 

Publish it not in the streets of Askelon; 

Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, 

Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. 

Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, 

Neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings ; 
For there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, 

The shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed 
with oil. 

From the blood of the slain, 

From the fat of the mighty, 

The bow of Jonathan turned not back, 

And the sword of Saul returned not empty. 

Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, 
And in their death they were not divided. 

They were swifter than eagles, 

They were stronger than lions. 


140 


Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, 

Who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, 

Who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel. 

How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! 

0 Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. 

1 am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan. 

Very pleasant hast thou been unto me. 

Thy love to me was wonderful, 

Passing the love of women. 

How are the mighty fallen. 

And the weapons of war perished! 


David and Uriah, and Nathan’s Parable 

(Chapter XI and Chapter XII , vs. 1-10) 

11 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the 
time when kings go forth to battle that David sent Joab, and 
his servants with him, and all Israel ; and they destroyed the 
children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried 
still at Jerusalem. 

And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose 
from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s 
house. And from the roof he saw a woman washing herself ; 
and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David 
sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this 
Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the 
Hittite? And David sent messengers, and took her; and she 
came in unto him, and he lay with her ; for she was purified 
from her uncleanness. And she returned unto her house. 
And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, 
I am with child. 

And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hit- 
tite. And Joab sent Uriah to David. And when Uriah was 


141 


come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and 
how the people did, and how the war prospered. And David 
said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And 
Uriah departed out of the king’s house, and there followed 
him a mess of meat from the king. But Uriah slept at the 
door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and 
went not down to his house. 

And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not 
down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not 
from thy journey? Why then didst thou not go down unto 
thine house? 

And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and 
Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of 
my lord, are encamped in the open fields. Shall I then go 
into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? 
As thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing. 

And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to 
morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem 
that day, and the morrow. And when David had called him, 
he did eat and drink before him. And he made him drunk. 
And at even Uriah went out to lie on his bed with the servants 
of his lord, but went not down to his house. 

And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a 
letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. And he wrote 
in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hot- 
test battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, 
and die. And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, 
that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that 
valiant men were. And the men of the city went out, and 
fought with Joab; and there fell some of the people of the 
servants of David ; and Uriah the Hittite died also. 

Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning 
the war; and charged the messenger, saying, When thou 
hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the 
king, and if so be that the king’s wrath arise, and he say 


142 


unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when 
ye did fight? Knew ye not that they would shoot from 
the wall? Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? 

Did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from 
the wall, that he died in Thebez? Why went ye nigh the 
wall? then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead 
also. 

So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all 
that Joab had sent him for. And the messenger said unto 
David, Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out 
unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the 
entering of the gate. And the shooters shot from off the 
wall upon thy servants; and some of the king’s servants be 
dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also. 

Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say 
unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword 
devoureth one as well as another. Make thy battle more 
strong against the city, and overthrow it. And encourage 
thou him. 

And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her hus- 
band was dead, she mourned for her husband. And when the 
mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, 
and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing 
that David had done displeased the Lord. 

12 And the Lord sent Nathan unto David. And he came Nathan’s Parable 
unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city ; 
the one rich, and the other poor. The rich man had exceed- 
ing many flocks and herds. But the poor man had nothing, 
save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished 
up. And it grew up together with him, and with his children. 

It did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay 
in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. And there 
came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take 
of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the way- 
faring man that was come unto him ; but took the poor man’s 
lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him. 


143 


And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man ; 
and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, the man that hath 
done this thing shall surely die ; and he shall restore the lamb 
fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no 
pity. 

And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus 
saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, 
and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul. And I gave 
thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy 
bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah. And 
if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto 
thee such and such things. Wherefore hast thou despised 
the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? Thou 
hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken 
his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of 
the children of Ammon. Now therefore the sword shall never 
depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, 
and has taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. 


THE FIRST BOOK OF THE KINGS 

The Story of Solomon 

(Chapter IV, vs. 29-3 U, Chapter VIII, vs. 22-53, and 
Chapter X, vs. 1-13) 

4 And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding ex- 
ceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that 
is on the sea shore. And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wis- 
dom of all the children of the east country, and all the wis- 
dom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men ; than Ethan 
the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Clialcol, and Darda, the sons 
of Mahol. And his fame was in all nations round about. 
And he spake three thousand proverbs; and his songs were 
a thousand and five. And he spake of trees, from the cedar 
tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth 
out of the wall; he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of 
creeping things, and of fishes. And there came of all peo- 
ple to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the 
earth, which had heard of his wisdom. 

***** 

8 And Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the 
presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth 
his hands toward heaven. And he said, Lord God of Israel, 
there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth be- 
neath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants 
that walk before thee with all their heart; who hast kept 
with thy servant David my father that thou promised him. 
Thou spakest also with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with 
thine hand, as it is this day. 


The Wisdom of 
Solomon 


The Prayer of 
Solomon 


145 


Therefore now, Lord God of Israel, keep with thy servant 
David my father that thou promisedst him, saying, There 
shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of 
Israel ; so that thy children take heed to their way, that they 
walk before me as thou hast walked before me. And now, 
0 God of Israel, let thy word, I pray thee, be verified, which 
thou spakest unto thy servant David my father. 

But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the 
heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee ; how much 
less this house that I have builded? Yet have thou respect 
unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, 0 Lord 
my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer, which 
thy servant prayeth before thee today; that thine eyes may 
be opened toward this house night and day, even toward the 
place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there; that 
thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall 
make toward this place. And hearken thou to the supplica- 
tion of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall 
pray toward this place ; and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling 
place; and when thou hearest, forgive. 

If any man trespass against his neighbour, and an oath 
be laid upon him to cause him to swear, and the oath come 
before thine altar in this house; then hear thou in heaven, 
and do, and judge thy servants, condemning the wicked, to 
bring his way upon his head; and justifying the righteous 
to give him according to his righteousness. 

When thy people Israel be smitten down before the 
enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn 
again to thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and make 
supplication unto thee in this house ; then hear thou in heaven, 
and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again 
unto the land which thou gavest unto their fathers. 

When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because 
they have sinned against thee ; if they pray toward this place, 
and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou 


146 


afflictest them; then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the 
sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, that thou teach 
them the good way wherein they should walk, and give rain 
upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy people for an 
inheritance. 

If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, 
blasting, mildew, locust, or if there be caterpillar; if their 
enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever 
plague, whatsoever sickness there be; what prayer and sup- 
plication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people 
Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own 
heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house; then 
hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, 
and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart 
thou knowest (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts 
of all the children of men) ; that they may fear thee all the 
days that they live in the land which thou gavest unto our 
fathers. 

Moreover concerning a stranger, that is not of thy people 
Israel, but cometh out of a far country for thy name's sake 
(for they shall hear of thy great name, and of thy strong 
hand, and of thy stretched out arm) ; when he shall come and 
pray toward this house; hear thou in heaven thy dwelling 
place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to 
thee for ; that all people of the earth may know thy name, to 
fear thee, as do thy people Israel ; and that they may know 
that this house, which I have builded, is called by thy name. 

If thy people go out to battle against their enemy, 
whithersoever thou shalt send them, and shall pray unto the 
Lord toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the 
house that I have built for thy name ; then hear thou in heaven 
their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause. 

If they sin against thee (for there is no man that sin- 
neth not) , and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to 
the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the 


147 


land of the enemy, far or near ; yet if they shall bethink them- 
selves in the land whither they were carried captives, and 
repent, and make supplication unto thee in the land of them 
that carried them captives, saying, We have sinned, and have 
done perversely, we have committed wickedness; and so re- 
turn unto thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, 
in the land of their enemies, which led them away captive, 
and pray unto thee toward their land, which thou gavest 
unto their fathers, the city which thou hast chosen, and the 
house which I have built for thy name; then hear thou their 
prayer and their supplication in heaven thy dwelling place, 
and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people that have 
sinned against thee, and all their transgressions wherein they 
have transgressed against thee, and give them compassion 
before them who carried them captive, that they may have 
compassion on them. For they be thy people, and thine in- 
heritance, which thou broughtest forth out of Egypt, from 
the midst of the furnace of iron; that thine eyes may be open 
unto the supplication of thy servant, and unto the supplica- 
tion of thy people Israel, to hearken unto them in all that 
they call for unto thee. For thou didst separate them from 
among all the people of the earth, to be thine inheritance, 
as thou spakest by the hand of Moses thy servant, when thou 
broughtest our fathers out of Egypt, 0 Lord God. 

* * * * * 

Solomon and the 10 And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solo- 

Queen of Sheba mon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to prove him 
with hard questions. And she came to Jerusalem with a very 
great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, 
and precious stones. And when she was come to Solomon, 
she communed with him of all that was in her heart. And 
Solomon told her all her questions. There was not any thing 
hid from the king, which he told her not. 

And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's 
wisdom, and the house that he had built, and the meat of his 
table and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of 


148 


his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his 
ascent by which he went up unto the house of the Lord ; there 
was no more spirit in her. And she said to the king, It was 
a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and 
of thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words, until I 
came, and mine eyes had seen it. And, behold, the half was 
not told me; thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame 
which I heard. Happy are thy men, happy are these thy 
servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear 
thy wisdom. Blessed be the Lord thy God, which delighted 
in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel ; because the Lord 
loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do 
judgment and justice. And she gave the king a hundred and 
twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and 
precious stones. There came no more such abundance of 
spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solo- 
mon. And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from 
Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, 
and precious stones. 

And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the 
house of the Lord, and for the king’s house, harps also and 
psalteries for singers. There came no such almug trees, nor 
were seen unto this day. And king Solomon gave unto the 
queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, besides 
that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she 
turned and went to her own country, she and her servants. 


The Story of Elijah 

(Chapter XVII, vs. 1-16, and Chapter XV III, vs. 17-A6) 

17 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of 
Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, 
before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these 
years, but according to my word. 


149 


Elijah and the 
Ravens 


The Miracle of the 
Meal and the Oil 


And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, Get 
thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the 
brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, that 
thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the 
ravens to feed thee there. 

So he went and did according unto the word of the Lord ; 
for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before 
Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the 
morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank 
of the brook. And it came to pass after a while, that the 
brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land. 

And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, Arise, 
get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell 
there. Behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to 
sustain thee. 

So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came 
to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there 
gathering of sticks. And he called to her, and said, Fetch me, 
I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. And 
as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring 
me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. 

And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a 
cake, but a handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a 
cruse; and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go 
in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. 

And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou 
hast said. But make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it 
unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. For thus 
saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not 
waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the 
Lord sendeth rain upon the earth. 

And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah. 
And she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. And the 
barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, 
according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah. 


150 


18 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab Elijah and the 
said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? Prophets of Baai 

And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, 
and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the com- 
mandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim. Now 
therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto Mount Carmel, 
and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the 
prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s 
table. 

So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gath- 
ered the prophets together unto Mount Carmel. 

And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long 
halt ye between two opinions ? If the Lord be God, follow him ; 
but if Baal, then follow him. 

And the people answered him not a word. 

Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a 
prophet of the Lord ; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and 
fifty men. Let them therefore give us two bullocks. And let 
them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, 
and lay it on wood, and put no fire under. And I will dress 
the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under. 

And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the 
name of the Lord. And the God that answereth by fire, let 
him be God. 

And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken. 

And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you 
one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; 
and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. 

And they took the bullock which was given them, and 
they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning 
even until noon, saying, 0 Baal, hear us. 


151 


But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they 
leaped upon the altar which was made. 

And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, 
and said, Cry aloud. For he is a god ; either he is talking, or 
he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he 
sleepeth, and must be awaked. 

And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their man- 
ner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon 
them. And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they 
prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacri- 
fice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any 
that regarded. 

And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. 
And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the 
altar of the Lord that was broken down. And Elijah took 
twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the 
sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the Lord came, saying, 
Israel shall be thy name. And with the stones he built an 
altar in the name of the Lord. And he made a trench about 
the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. 
And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, 
and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with 
water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. 
And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second 
time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the 
third time. And the water ran round about the altar ; and he 
filled the trench also with water. 

And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the 
evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, 
Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known 
this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, 
and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, 
O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the 
Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. 

Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt 


152 


sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and 
licked up the water that was in the trench. 

And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces. 
And they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the 
God. And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; 
let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah 
brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them 
there. 

And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; 
for there is a sound of abundance of rain. So Ahab went up 
to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Car- 
mel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his 
face between his knees, and said to his servant, Go up now, 
look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, 
There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. And 
it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there 
ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And 
he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get 
thee down, that the rain stop thee not. And it came to pass 
in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and 
wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went 
to Jezreel. And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; and he 
girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of 
Jezreel. 


Elijah and the 
Chariot of Fire 


THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS 

The Story of Elijah (Continued) 

(Chapter II, vs. 1-12) 

And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah 
into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha 
from Gilgal. And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray 
thee ; for the Lord hath sent me to Beth-el. 

And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord liveth, and as 
thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. 

So they went down to Beth-el. 

And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth-el came 
forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the 
Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? 

And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. 

And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray 
thee ; for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho. 

And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, 
I will not leave thee. 

So they came to Jericho. 

And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came 
to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord 
will take away thy master from thy head to day? 

And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. 

And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for 
the Lord hath sent me to Jordan. 

And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, 
I will not leave thee. 


154 


And they two went on. 

And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and 
stood to view afar off ; and they two stood by Jordan. And 
Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote 
the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so 
that they two went over on dry ground. 

And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that 
Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before 
I be taken away from thee? 

And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy 
spirit be upon me. 

And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing. Neverthe- 
less, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so 
unto thee ; but if not, it shall not be so. 

And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, 
that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of 
fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a 
whirlwind into heaven. 

And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, 
the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof! 


The Story of Naaman the Leper 

(Chapter V, vs. 1-27) 

Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, 
was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by 
him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria. He was also 
a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper. 

And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had 
brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid ; 
and she waited on Naaman’s wife. And she said unto her 
mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in 
Samaria ! For he would recover him of his leprosy. 


155 


And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and 
thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel. And the king 
of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king 
of Israel. 

And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, 
and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment. 
And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now 
when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have therewith 
sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover 
him of his leprosy. 

And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read 
the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to 
kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to 
recover a man of his leprosy? Wherefore consider, I pray 
you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me. 

And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard 
that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to 
the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? 
Let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a 
prophet in Israel. So Naaman came with his horses and with 
his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. And 
Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in 
Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, 
and thou shalt be clean. 

But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Be- 
hold, I thought, he will surely come out to me, and stand, 
and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand 
over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and 
Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of 
Israel ? May I not wash in them, and be clean ? So he turned 
and went away in a rage. 

And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and 
said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great 
thing, wouldest thou not have done it? How much rather 
then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? Then went 


156 


he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, accord- 
ing to the saying of the man of God. And his flesh came 
again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 

And he returned to the man of God, he and all his com- 
pany, and came, and stood before him. And he said, Behold, 
now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in 
Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy 
servant. But he said, As the Lord liveth, before whom I 
stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but 
he refused. And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray 
thee, be given to thy servant two mules’ burden of earth? 
For thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering 
nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the Lord. In this 
thing the Lord pardon thy servant, that when my master 
goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he 
leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rim- 
mon ; when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the 
Lord pardon thy servant in this thing. And he said unto him, 
Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way. 

But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, 
Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not 
receiving at his hands that which he brought ; but, as the Lord 
liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him. So 
Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him 
running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet 
him, and said, Is all well ? And he said, All is well. My mas- 
ter hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to 
me from Mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the 
prophets. Give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two 
changes of garments. And Naaman said, Be content, take 
two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of 
silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid 
them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before 
him. And when he came to the tower, he took them from 
their hand, and bestowed them in the house; and he let the 
men go, and they departed. 


157 


But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha 
said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, 
Thy servant went no whither. And he said unto him, Went 
not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from 
his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and 
to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, 
and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants? The leprosy 
therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed 
for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white 
as snow. 


THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES 


Athaliah’s Usurpation and Death 

( Chapter XXII, vs. 10-12, and Chapter XXIII) 

22 But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her 
son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the 
house of Judah. But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, 
took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the 
king's sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a 
bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, 
the wife of Jehoiada the priest (for she was the sister of 
Ahaziah), hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not. 
And he was with them hid in the house of God six years. And 
Athaliah reigned over the land. 

23 And in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, 
and took the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Je- 
roham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son 
of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat 
the son of Zichri, into covenant with him. And they went 
about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities 
of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, and they 
came to Jerusalem. And all the congregation made a cove- 
nant with the king in the house of God. And he said unto 
them, Behold, the king’s son shall reign, as the Lord hath 
said of the sons of David. This is the thing that ye shall do : 
A third part of you entering on the sabbath, of the priests 
and of the Levites, shall be porters of the doors ; and a third 
part shall be at the king's house; and a third part at the 
gate of the foundation; and all the people shall be in the 
courts of the house of the Lord. But let none come into the 


159 


house of the Lord, save the priests, and they that minister 
of the Levites; they shall go in, for they are holy; but all 
the people shall keep the watch of the Lord. And the Levites 
shall compass the king around about, every man with his 
weapons in his hand; and whosoever else cometh into the 
house, he shall be put to death ; but be ye with the king when 
he cometh in, and when he goeth out. 

So the Levites and all Judah did according to all things 
that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and took every man 
his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that 
were to go out on the sabbath: for Jehoiada the priest dis- 
missed not the courses. Moreover Jehoiada the priest deliv- 
ered to the captains of hundreds spears, and bucklers, and 
shields, that had been king David’s which were in the house 
of God. And he set all the people, every man having his 
weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the 
left side of the temple, along by the altar and the temple, by 
the king round about. Then they brought out the king’s son, 
and put upon him the crown, and gave him the testimony, and 
made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and 
said, God save the king. 

Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running 
and praising the king, she came to the people into the house 
of the Lord. And she looked, and, behold, the king stood at 
his pillar at the entering in, and the princes and the trumpets 
by the king. And all the people of the land rejoiced, and 
sounded with trumpets, also the singers with instruments of 
music, and such as taught to sing praise. Then Athaliah rent 
her clothes, and said, Treason, treason. 

Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hun- 
dreds that were set over the host, and said unto them, Have 
her forth of the ranges ; and whoso followeth her, let him be 
slain with the sword. For the priest said, Slay her not in the 
house of the Lord. So they laid hands on her ; and when she 
was come to the entering of the horse gate by the king’s 
house, they slew her there. 


160 


THE BOOK OF ESTHER 


The Book of Esther is like the Book of Ruth an illustration of the 
statement that what in a piece of literature an author or his contem- 
poraries probably cared for most we moderns care for least. We are 
little concerned today with the fact that this fine story of Esther, Haman, 
and Mordecai was written to explain the origin of the Feast of Purim, 
or that it records a great national triumph of the Jews, or even that it 
had a mythical or historical background. But we are interested in the 
story. It is for us a beautiful romantic narrative told with marked 
dramatic power — a human document, written by a man of fine literary 
craftsmanship. 


The Story of Esther, Mordecai, and Haman 

(Chapter I — Chapter X) 

Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus (this is 
Ahasuerus which reigned from India even unto Ethiopia, 
over a hundred and seven and twenty provinces) , that in those 
days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his king- 
dom, which was in Shushaii the palace, in the third year of 
his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his serv- 
ants ; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes 
of the provinces, being before him; when he shewed the 
riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent 
majesty many days, even a hundred and fourscore days. And 
when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all 
the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto 
great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the 
king’s palace; where were white, green, and blue hangings, 


161 


The Decree of 
Ahasuerus 


fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings 
and pillars of marble. The beds were of gold and silver, upon 
a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black marble. 
And they gave them drink in vessels of gold (the vessels 
being diverse one from another) , and royal wine in abundance, 
according to the state of the king. And the drinking was 
according to the law. None did compel; for so the king had 
appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do 
according to every man’s pleasure. Also Vashti the queen 
made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged 
to king Ahasuerus. 

On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was 
merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, 
Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamber- 
lains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, to 
bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, 
to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was 
fair to look on. But the queen Vashti refused to come at the 
king’s commandment by his chamberlains. Therefore was the 
king very wroth, and his anger burned in him. 

Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the 
times (for so was the king’s manner toward all that knew 
law and judgment: and the next unto him was Carshena, She- 
thar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the 
seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king’s face, 
and which sat first in the kingdom), What shall we do unto 
the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not per- 
formed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the 
chamberlains ? 

And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, 
Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but 
also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the 
provinces of the king Ahasuerus. For this deed of the queen 
shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise 
their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The 
king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought 

162 


i 


in before him, but she came not. Likewise shall the ladies of 
Persia and Media say this day unto all the king's princes, 
which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there 
arise too much contempt and wrath. If it please the king, let 
there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written 
among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not 
altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; 
and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is bet- 
ter than she. And when the king's decree, which he shall 
make, shall be published throughout all his empire (for it is 
great) , all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both 
to great and small. 

And the saying pleased the king and the princes ; and the 
king did according to the word of Memucan. For he sent let- 
ters into all the king’s provinces, into every province accord- 
ing to the writing thereof, and to every people after their 
language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, 
and that it should be published according to the language of 
every people. 

2 After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus 
was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, 
and what was decreed against her. Then said the king’s 
servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young 
virgins sought for the king. And let the king appoint officers 
in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather 
together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, 
to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege, the 
king's chamberlain, keeper of the women ; and let their things 
for purification be given them. And let the maiden which 
pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing 
pleased the king; and he did so. 

Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, 
whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, 
the son of Kish, a Benjamite; who had been carried away 
from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried 
away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the 

163 


Mordecai, the 
Jew, and Esther 


king of Babylon had carried away. And he brought up Hadas- 
sah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter. For she had neither 
father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful ; whom 
Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his 
own daughter. 

So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and 
his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered 
together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, 
that Esther was brought also unto the king’s house, to the 
custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. And the maiden 
pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him ; and he speed- 
ily gave her her things for purification, with such things as 
belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be 
given her, out of the king’s house; and he preferred her and 
her maids unto the best place of the house of the women. 
Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred ; for Mor- 
decai had charged her that she should not shew it. And Mor- 
decai walked every day before the court of the women’s house, 
to know how Esther did, and what should become of her. 

Now when every maid’s turn was come to go in to king 
Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according 
to the manner of the women (for so were the days of their 
purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of 
myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other 
things for the purifying of the women), then thus came every 
maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her 
to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king’s 
house. In the evening she went, and on the morrow she re- 
turned into the second house of the women, to the custody 
of Shaashgaz, the king’s chamberlain, which kept the con- 
cubines. She came in unto the king no more, except the king 
delighted in her, and that she were called by name. 

Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail 
the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, 
was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but 
what Hegai the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, 


164 


appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all 
them that looked upon her. So Esther was taken unto king 
Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is 
the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. 

And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she 
obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the vir- 
gins ; so that he set the royal crown upon her head and made 
her queen instead of Vashti. Then the king made a great 
feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther’s 
feast ; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, 
according to the state of the king. And when the virgins 
were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat 
in the king’s gate. Esther had not yet shewed her kindred 
nor her people, as Mordecai had charged her; for Esther did 
the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought 
up with him. 

In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king’s gate, two 
of the king’s chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those 
which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on 
the king Ahasuerus. And the thing was known to Mordecai, 
who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the 
king thereof in Mordecai’s name. And when inquisition was 
made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were 
both hanged on a tree. And it was written in the book of 
the chronicles before the king. 

3 After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman 
the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and 
set his seat above all the princes that were with him. And 
all the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, bowed, 
and reverenced Haman ; for the king had so commanded con- 
cerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence. 
Then the king’s servants, which were in the king’s gate, said 
unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king’s command- 
ment? Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, 
and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to 
see whether Mordecai’s matters would stand; for he had told 


Esther Pleases 
the King 


Haman and the 
People of Mor- 
decai 


165 


them that he was a Jew. And when Haman saw that Mor- 
decai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full 
of wrath. And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai 
alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai. 
Wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were 
throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the peo- 
ple of Mordecai. 

In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the 
twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the 
lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, 
to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar. 

And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain 
people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all 
the provinces of thy kingdom ; and their laws are diverse from 
all people; neither keep they the king's laws; therefore it is 
not for the king's profit to suffer them. If it please the king, 
let it be written that they may be destroyed ; and I will pay 
ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have 
the charge of the business, to bring it into the king’s 
treasuries. 

And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it 
unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' 
enemy. And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given 
to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good 
to thee. 

Then were the king’s scribes called on the thirteenth day 
of the first month, and there was written according to all that 
Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to 
the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers 
of every people of every province according to the writing 
thereof, and to every people after their language ; in the name 
of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king’s 
ring. And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's 
provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, 
both young and old, little children and women, in one day, 
even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is 

166 


the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey. The 
copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every 
province was published unto all people, that they should be 
ready against that day. The posts went out, being hastened 
by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in 
Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to 
drink. But the city Shushan was perplexed. 

4 When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai 
rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went 
out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a 
bitter cry; and came even before the king's gate; for none 
might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth. And 
in every province, whithersoever the king’s commandment and 
his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, 
and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sack- 
cloth and ashes. 

So Esther’s maids and her chamberlains came and told it 
her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent 
raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth 
from him; but he received it not. Then called Esther for 
Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had ap- 
pointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to 
Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was. So Hatach 
went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was 
before the king's gate. And Mordecai told him of all that had 
happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman 
had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to 
destroy them. Also he gave him the copy of the writing of 
the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to 
shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge 
her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication 
unto him, and to make request before him for her people. 
And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai. 

Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him com- 
mandment unto Mordecai: All the king's servants, and the 
people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, 

167 


Esther Obtains 
Favour before 
the King 


whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the 
inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put 
him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out 
the golden sceptre, that he may live. But I have not been 
called to come in unto the king these thirty days. And they 
told to Mordecai Esther's words. 

Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not 
with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more 
than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at 
this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise 
to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's 
house shall be destroyed. And who knoweth whether thou art 
come to the kingdom for such a time as this? 

Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, Go, 
gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and 
fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or 
day. I also and my maidens will fast likewise. And so will I 
go in unto the king, which is not according to the law. And 
if I perish, I perish. 

So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that 
Esther had commanded him. 

5 Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put 
on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's 
house, over against the king’s house. And the king sat upon 
his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of 
the house. 

And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen stand- 
ing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight; and 
the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his 
hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the 
sceptre. Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen 
Esther? And what is thy request? It shall be even given 
thee to the half of the kingdom. 

And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let 


168 


the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I 
have prepared for him. 

Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he 
may do as Esther hath said. 

So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther 
had prepared. 

And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, 
What is thy petition? And it shall be granted thee. And 
what is thy request? Even to the half of the kingdom it shall 
be performed. 

Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my 
request is, If I have found favour in the sight of the king, 
and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform 
my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that 
I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king 
hath said. 

Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad 
heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that 
he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation 
against Mordecai. Nevertheless Haman refrained himself. 
And when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, 
and Zeresh his wife. And Haman told them of the glory of 
his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things 
wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced 
him above the princes and servants of the king. Haman said 
moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with 
the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself ; 
and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king. Yet 
all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew 
sitting at the king's gate. 

Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, 
Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow 
speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged 
thereon. Then go thou in merrily with the king unto the 


169 


Mordecai Is 
Honoured 


banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the 
gallows to be made. 

6 On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded 
to bring the book of records of the chronicles ; and they were 
read before the king. And it was found written, that Morde- 
cai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's cham- 
berlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on 
the king Ahasuerus. And the king said, What honour and 
dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the 
king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing 
done for him. 

And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman 
was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak 
unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had 
prepared for him. And the king's servants said unto him, 
Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let 
him come in. So Haman came in. 

And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the 
man whom the king delighteth to honour? 

Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the 
king delight to do honour more than to myself? And Haman 
answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to 
honour, Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth 
to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the 
crown royal which is set upon his head ; and let this apparel 
and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most 
noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the 
king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback 
through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus 
shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to 
honour. 

Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the 
apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to 
Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate. Let nothing 
fail of all that thou hast spoken. 


170 


Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed 
Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street 
of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done 
unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour. And 
Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. 

But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his 
head covered. And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his 
friends every thing that had befallen him. 

Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If 
Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast 
begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt 
surely fall before him. 

And while they were yet talking with him, came the king’s 
chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet 
that Esther had prepared. 

7 So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the 
queen. And the king said again unto Esther on the second 
day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Es- 
ther? And it shall be granted thee. And what is thy request? 
And it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom. 

Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found 
favour in thy sight, 0 king, and if it please the king, let my 
life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request. 
For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, 
and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bond- 
women, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not 
countervail the king’s damage. 

Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther 
the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in 
his heart to do so ? 

And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked 
Haman. 

Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen. 

And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his 
wrath went into the palace garden. And Haman stood up to 


171 


Haman Is 
Hanged 


make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw 
that there was evil determined against him by the king. Then 
the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of 
the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed 
whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the 
queen also before me in the house? As the word went out 
of the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. And Har- 
bonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold 
also the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made 
for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in 
the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon. 
So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared 
for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified. 

8 Gn that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of 
Haman the Jews’ enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mor- 
decai came before the king ; for Esther had told what he was 
unto her. And the king took off his ring, which he had taken 
from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set 
Mordecai over the house of Haman. 

And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell 
down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away 
the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had 
devised against the Jews. Then the king held out the golden 
sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the 
king, and said, If it please the king, and if I have found 
favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, 
and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the 
letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the 
Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all 
king’s provinces. For how can I endure to see the evil that 
shall come unto my people? Or how can I endure to see the 
destruction of my kindred? 

Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and 
to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of 
Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because 
he laid his hand upon the Jews. Write ye also for the Jews, 


172 


as it liketh you, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s 
ring ; for the writing which is written in the king’s name, and 
sealed with the king’s ring, may no man reverse. Then were 
the king’s scribes called at that time in the third month, that 
is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof ; 
and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded 
unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and 
rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, a 
hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province 
according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after 
their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, 
and according to their language. And he wrote in the king 
Ahasuerus’ name, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent 
letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, 
and young dromedaries, wherein the king granted the Jews 
which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to 
stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, 
all the power of the people and province that would assault 
them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of 
them for a prey, upon one day in all the provinces of king 
Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth 
month, which is the month Adar. The copy of the writing 
for a commandment to be given in every province was pub- 
lished unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready 
against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. So 
the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being 
hastened and pressed on by the king’s commandment. And 
the decree was given at Shushan the palace. 

And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in 
royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of 
gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple. And the 
city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad. The Jews had light, 
and gladness, and joy, and honour. And in every province, 
and in every city, whithersoever the king’s commandment and 
his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and 


173 


a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews ; 
for the fear of the Jews fell upon them. 

9 Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on 
the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's command- 
ment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the 
day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over 
them (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews 
had rule over them that hated them), the Jews gathered 
themselves together in their cities throughout all the prov- 
inces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought 
their hurt. And no man could withstand them; for the 
fear of them fell upon all people. And all the rulers of the 
provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers 
of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai 
fell upon them. For Mordecai was great in the king's house, 
and his fame went out throughout all the provinces. For this 
man Mordecai waxed greater and greater. Thus the Jews 
smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, arid 
slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto 
those that hated them. And in Shushan the palace the Jews 
slew and destroyed five hundred men. And Parshandatha, 
and Dalphon, and Aspatha, and Poratha, and Adalia, and 
Aridatha, and Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajez- 
atha, the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the 
enemy of the Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not 
their hand. On that day the number of those that were 
slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the king. 

And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have 
slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, 
and the ten sons of Haman. What have they done in the rest 
of the king's provinces? Now what is thy petition? And it 
shall be granted thee. Or what is thy request further? And 
it shall be done. 

Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted 
to the Jews which are in Shushan to do tomorrow also accord- 


174 


ing unto this day’s decree, and let Hainan's ten sons be hanged 
upon the gallows. 

And the king commanded it so to be done. And the 
decree was given at Shushan ; and they hanged Haman's ten 
sons. 

For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves 
together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and 
slew three hundred men at Shushan; but on the prey they 
laid not their hand. But the other Jews that were in the 
king's provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for 
their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their 
foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands 
on the prey, on the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and 
on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a 
day of feasting and gladness. But the Jews that were at 
Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, 
and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of 
the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and 
gladness. Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in 
the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month 
Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of 
sending portions one to another. 

And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto 
all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasue- 
rus, both nigh and far, to establish this among them, that 
they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and 
the fifteenth day of the same, yearly, as the days wherein 
the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was 
turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning 
into a good day; that they should make them days of feast- 
ing and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and 
gifts to the poor. And the Jews undertook to do as they had 
begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them; because 
Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of 
all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, 
and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and to 

175 


destroy them ; but when Esther came before the king, he com- 
manded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised 
against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and 
that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. Where- 
fore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. 
Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which 
they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come 
unto them, the Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon 
their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, 
so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days 
according to their writing, and according to their appointed 
time every year; and that these days should be remembered 
and kept throughout every generation, every family, every 
province, and every city; and that these days of Purim 
should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of 
them perish from their seed. Then Esther the queen, the 
daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all 
authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim. And he 
sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty 
and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with 
words of peace and truth, to confirm these days of Purim in 
their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and 
Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed 
for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fast- 
ings and their cry. And the decree of Esther confirmed 
these matters of Purim ; and it was written in the book. 

10 And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and 
upon the isles of the sea. And all the acts of his power and 
of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Morde- 
cai, whereunto the king advanced him, are they not written 
in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and 
Persia? For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasue- 
rus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multi- 
tude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and 
speaking peace to all his seed. 


176 


THE BOOK OF JOB 


The Book of Job is generally regarded as the masterpiece of Hebrew 
literature; by some critics, indeed, it is placed at the head of the world’s 
literature. It is world-wide in the significance of its appeal. Its specific 
problem is, Why do the righteous suffer ? — a theme which still engages 
the attention of men everywhere. Carlyle said, It is “a noble book; all 
men’s book. It is our first, oldest statement of the never-ending prob- 
lem — man’s destiny and God’s way with him here in this earth. And all 
in such free flowing outlines; grand in its sincerity, in its simplicity; in 
its epic melody and repose of reconcilement. * * * Sublime sorrow, 

sublime reconciliation ; oldest choral melody as of the heart of mankind — 
so soft and great; as the summer midnight, as the world with its seas 
and stars.” 

Disregarding, if we may for the moment, the various theories, often 
conflicting, as to the structure of the Book, we are safe in accepting 
as an answer to the problem therein presented the following statement: 
“To cling to his integrity while he lives, to assert and to realize the 
excellences appropriate to his nature as a man, as this particular kind 
of man, knowing all the while that this is to be accomplished in a world 
which was not made for him, in which he shares his claim on the con- 
sideration of Omnipotence with the infinitude of its creatures that alike 
manifest its powers — this is the destiny of man. * * * When ulti- 

mately confronted with the inward character of Omnipotence, man real- 
izes that, on its part, alone moral indifference can be genuine justice. 
Its providence, its indifference, its justice — they are all one. Hence, 
when Yahweh reveals himself to Job as the creative providence sustain- 
ing even the most impotent of living things and destroying even the 
strongest, Job realizes that not prosperity but excellence is the justifica- 
tion of human life, and the very indifference of Yahweh comforts him.” 1 


1 Kallen, H. M. The Book of Job as a Greek Tragedy Restored, 
pp. 76, 77 


The authorship of the Book is unknown; it was written not earlier 
than the age of Jeremiah. Its contents may be indicated as follows: 


6 Final Survey c. 29-31 


1 Prologue c. 1-2 

2 Job’s Cry c. 3-31 

3 First Cycle of Speeches c. 4-14 

4 Second Cycle of Speeches c. 15-21 

5 Third Cycle of Speeches c. 22-28 


7 Speech of Elihu c. 32-37 

8 Speech of Jehovah c. 38-41 

9 Reply of Job c. 42, vs. 1-6 
10 Epilogue c 42, vs. 7-17 


Of the various explanations which critics have offered as to the nature 
and meaning of this book, the following probably represent sufficiently 
the variety in point of view. Professor Genung calls the book of Job 
the “The Epic of the Inner Life,” on the basis that here we have “the 
heroic spiritual achievements, as we may truly call them, of Job in his 
tremendous encounter with the mysterious dealings of God and the 
mistaken judgments of his friends.” Dr. Kallen holds that Job is “a 
Hebraized form of the Greek tragedy of Euripides, with which may be 
the beginning and end of the legend or novel on which the drama was 
based attached to it. Prologue, agon, messenger, choruses, epiphany, 
epilogue, they are all evident with just those differences from the Greek 
that may be expected from the difference in tradition and background 
between the two authors. In his elaborate study of the book of Job, 
Professor Jastrow concludes that the book is a series of discussions of 
a vital problem gradually taking shape under many angles — orthodox 
and unorthodox. The discussion is similar to the Greek Symposium. 
According to Professor Jastrow’s theory, we have (1) the Folk Tale of 
the Prologue and Epilogue, to which have been attached two series of 
speeches, a third series, a chapter on the search for wisdom (chapter 
28), and the supplemental speeches of Job (chapter 29-31); (2) the 
speeches of Elihu (chapter 32-37); and (3) the speech of Yahweh (chap- 
ter 38-41). 


The Story of Job 

( Chapter I to Chapter XLII ) 


1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job ; 
and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared 


178 


God, and eschewed evil. And there were born unto him seven 
sons and three daughters. His substance also was seven 
thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred 
yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great 
household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men 
of the east. And his sons went and feasted in their houses, 
every one his day ; and sent and called for their three sisters 
to eat and to drink with them. And it was so, when the days 
of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified 
them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt 
offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, 
It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their 
hearts. Thus did Job continually. 

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to 
present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also 
among them. 

And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? 

Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to 
and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 

And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my 
servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a per- 
fect and an upright man, one that feareth God and escheweth 
evil ? 

Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear 
God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, 
and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? 
Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance 
is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and 
touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. 

And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is 
in thy power ; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. 

So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord. 

And there was a day when his sons and his daughters 
were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house. 


Satan is Allowed 
to Tempt Job 


179 


Job’s Affliction 


And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen 
were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them; and the 
Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away ; yea, they have 
slain the servants with the edge of the sword ; and I only am 
escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there 
came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from 
heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and 
consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 
While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, 
The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, 
and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants 
with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to 
tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, 
and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drink- 
ing wine in their eldest brother’s house; and, behold, there 
came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four 
corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and 
they are dead ; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 

Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his 
head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, and 
said, 

Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, 

And naked shall I return thither; 

The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away ; 

Blessed be the name of the Lord. 

In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. 

2 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to 
present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also 
among them to present himself before the Lord. 

And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence comest 
thou? 

And Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to 
and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 

And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my 


180 


servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect 
and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth 
evil? And still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou 
movedst me against him to destroy him without cause. 

And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for skin, 
yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. But put 
forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and 
he will curse thee to thy face. 

And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine 
hand; but save his life. 

So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and 
smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his 
crown. And Job took him a potsherd to scrape himself 
withal ; and he sat down among the ashes. 

Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine 
integrity? Curse God, and die. 

But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish 
women speaketh. What, shall we receive good at the hand of 
God, and shall we not receive evil? 

In all this did not Job sin with his lips. 

Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that 
was come upon him, they came every one from his own place : 

Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar 
the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together 
to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. And when 
they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they 
lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his 
mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven. 

So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and 
seven nights, and none spake a word unto him ; for they saw 
that his grief was very great. 

3 After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day. Job's complaint 
And Job spake, and said, 


181 


Let the day perish wherein I was born, 

And the night in which it was said, 

There is a man child conceived. 

Let that day be darkness; 

Let not God regard it from above, 

Neither let the light shine upon it. 

Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; 

Let a cloud dwell upon it; 

Let the blackness of the day terrify it. 

As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; 

Let it not be joined unto the days of the year, 

Let it not come into the number of the months. 

Lo, let that night be solitary, 

Let no joyful voice come therein. 

Let them curse it that curse the day, 

Who are ready to raise up their mourning. 

Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark ; 

Let it look for light, but have none ; 

Neither let it see the dawning of the day; 

Because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, 
Nor hid sorrow from mine eyes. 

Why died I not from the womb? 

Why did I not give up the ghost 
When I came out of the belly? 

Why did the knees prevent me? 

Or why the breasts that I should suck? 

For now should I have lain still and been quiet, 

I should have slept ; 

Then had I been at rest, 

With kings and counsellors of the earth, 

Which built desolate places for themselves; 

Or with princes that had gold, 


182 


Who filled their houses with silver ; 

Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been, 

As infants which never saw light. 

There the wicked cease from troubling ; 

And there the weary be at rest. 

There the prisoners rest together; 

They hear not the voice of the oppressor. 

The small and great are there; 

And the servant is free from his master. 

Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, 

And life unto the bitter in soul; 

Which long for death, but it cometh not ; 

And dig for it more than for hid treasures ; 

Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, 

When they can find the grave? 

Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, 

And whom God hath hedged in? 

For my sighing cometh before I eat, 

And my roarings are poured out like the waters. 

For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, 
And that which I was afraid of is come unto me. 

I was not in safety, neither had I rest, 

Neither was I quiet; yet trouble came. 

4 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered, and said, 

If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved ? 
But who can withhold himself from speaking? 

Behold, thou hast instructed many, 

And thou hast strengthened the weak hands. 

Thy words have upholden him that was falling, 

And thou hast strengthened the feeble knees. 


The First Speech 
of Eliphaz 


183 


But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; 

It toucheth thee, and thou art troubled. 

Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, 

Thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways? 

Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being inno- 
cent? 

Or where were the righteous cut off? 

Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, 

And sow wickedness, reap the same. 

By the blast of God they perish, 

And by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed. 

The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, 
And the teeth of the young lions, are broken. 

The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, 

And the stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad. 

Now a thing was secretly brought to me, 

And mine ear received a little thereof. 

In thoughts from the visions of the night, 

When deep sleep falleth on men, 

Fear came upon me, and trembling, 

Which made all my bones to shake. 

Then a spirit passed before my face; 

The hair of my flesh stood up ; 

It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof ; 

An image was before mine eyes, 

There was silence, and I heard a voice, saying, 

Shall mortal man be more just than God? 

Shall a man be more pure than his maker? 

Behold, he put no trust in his servants ; 

And his angels he charged with folly. 

How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay. 


184 


Whose foundation is in the dust, 

Which are crushed before the moth? 

They are destroyed from morning to evening; 

They perish for ever without any regarding it. 

Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? 
They die, even without wisdom. 

5 Call now, if there be any that will answer thee ; 

And to which of the saints wilt thou turn? 

For wrath killeth the foolish man, 

And envy slayeth the silly one. 

I have seen the foolish taking root; 

But suddenly I cursed his habitation. 

His children are far from safety, 

And they are crushed in the gate, 

Neither is there any to deliver them. 

Whose harvest the hungry eateth up. 

And taketh it even out of the thorns, 

And the robber swalloweth up their substance. 

Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, 
Neither doth trouble spring out of the ground, 

Yet man is born unto trouble, 

As the sparks fly upward. 

I would seek unto God, 

And unto God would I commit my cause; 

Which doeth great things and unsearchable ; 

Marvellous things without number; 

Who giveth rain upon the earth, 

And sendeth waters upon the fields ; 

To set up on high those that be low ; 

That those which mourn may be exalted to safety. 


185 


He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, 

So that their hands cannot perform their enterprise. 

He taketh the wise in their own craftiness ; 

And the counsel of the froward is carried headlong. 

They meet with darkness in the daytime, 

And grope in the noonday as in the night. 

But he saveth the poor from the sword, 

From their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty. 

So the poor hath hope, 

And iniquity stoppeth her mouth. 

Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth ; 

Therefore despise not thou the chastening of the 
Almighty. 

For he maketh sore, and bindeth up; 

He woundeth, and his hands make whole. 

He shall deliver thee in six troubles ; 

Yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. 

In famine he shall redeem thee from death ; 

And in war from the power of the sword. 

Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue ; 
Neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it 
cometh. 

At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh; 

Neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth. 
For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field ; 
And the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee. 
And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in 
peace ; 

And thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin. 

Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, 

And thine offspring as the grass of the earth. 

Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, 

Like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season. 


186 


Lo, this, we have searched it, so it is ; 

Hear it, and know thou it for thy good. 

6 But Job answered and said, Job’s Answer 

Oh, that my grief were thoroughly weighed, 

And my calamity laid in the balances together! 

For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea ; 

Therefore my words are swallowed up. 

For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, 

The poison whereof drinketh up my spirit. 

The terrors of God do set themselves in array against me. 

Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? 

Or loweth the ox over his fodder? 

Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? 

Or is there any taste in the white of an egg? 

The things that my soul refused to touch 
Are as my sorrowful meat. 

Oh that I might have my request ; 

And that God would grant me the thing that I long for! 

Even that it would please God to destroy me ; 

That he would let loose his hand, and cut me off ! 

Then should I yet have comfort; 

Yea, I would harden myself in sorrow. 

Let him not spare; 

For I have not concealed the words of the Holy One. 

What is my strength, that I should hope? 

And what is mine end, that I should prolong my life? 

Is my strength the strength of stones? 

Or is my flesh of brass? 

Is not my help in me? 

And is wisdom driven quite from me? 

To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his 
friend ; 

But he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty. 


187 


My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, 

And as the stream of brooks they pass away ; 

Which are blackish by reason of the ice, 

And wherein the snow is hid. 

What time they wax warm, they vanish; 

When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place. 

The paths of their way are turned aside; 

They go to nothing, and perish. 

The troops of Tema looked, 

The companies of Sheba waited for them. 

They were confounded because they had hoped ; 
They came thither, and were ashamed. 

For now ye are nothing; 

Ye see my casting down, and are afraid. 

Did I say, Bring unto me? 

Or, Give a reward for me of your substance? 

Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? 

Or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty? 

Teach me, and I will hold my tongue; 

And cause me to understand wherein I have erred. 

How forcible are right words ! 

But what doth your arguing reprove? 

Do ye imagine to reprove words. 

And the speeches of one that is desperate, 

Which are as wind? 

Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, 

And ye dig a pit for your friend. 

Now therefore be content, look upon me; 

For it is evident unto you if I lie. 

Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity ; 

Yea, return again, my righteousness is in it. 


188 


Is there iniquity in my tongue? 

Cannot my taste discern perverse things ? 

7 Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? 

Are not his days also like the days of an hireling? 

As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, 

And as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work, 
So am I made to possess months of vanity. 

And wearisome nights are appointed to me. 

When I lie down, I say, 

When shall I arise, and the night be gone? 

And I am full of tossings to and fro 
Unto the dawning of the day. 

My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; 

My skin is broken, and become loathsome. 

My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, 

And are spent without hope. 

0 remember that my life is wind ; 

Mine eye shall no more see good. 

The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more ; 
Thine eyes are upon me, and I am not. 

As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away, 

So he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no 
more. 

He shall return no more to his house, 

Neither shall his place know him any more. 

Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; 

I will speak in the anguish of my spirit ; 

I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. 

Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me ? 
When I say, My bed shall comfort me, 

My couch shall ease my complaint, 


189 


The First Speech 
of Bildad 


Then thou scarest me with dreams, 

And terrifiest me with visions, 

So that my soul chooseth strangling, 

And death rather than life. 

I loathe it ; I would not live alway. 

Let me alone; for my days are vanity. 

What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? 

And that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? 

And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, 

And try him every moment? 

How long wilt thou not depart from me, 

Nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle? 

I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, 0 thou pre- 
server of men? 

Why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, 

So that I am a burden to myself? 

And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, 

And take away mine iniquity? 

For now shall I sleep in the dust ; 

And thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be. 

Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said, 

How long wilt thou speak these things ? 

And how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a 
strong wind? 

Doth God pervert judgment? 

Or doth the Almighty pervert justice? 

If thy children have sinned against him, 

And he have cast them away for their transgression ; 

If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, 

And make thy supplication to the Almighty; 

If thou wert pure and upright; 

Surely now he would awake for thee, 


190 


And make the habitation of thy righteousness pros- 
perous. 

Though thy beginning was small, 

Yet the latter end should greatly increase. 

For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, 

And prepare thyself to the search of their fathers. 

(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, 
Because our days upon earth are a shadow.) 

Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, 

And utter words out of their heart? 

Can the rush grow up without mire? 

Can the flag grow without water? 

Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, 

It withereth before any other herb. 

So are the paths of all that forget God ; 

And the hypocrite's hope shall perish ; 

Whose hope shall be cut off, 

And whose trust shall be a spider's web. 

He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand ; 

He shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure. 

He is green before the sun, 

And his branch shooteth forth in his garden. 

His roots are wrapped about the heap, 

And seeth the place of stones. 

If he destroy him from his place, 

Then it shall deny him, saying, 

I have not seen thee. 

Behold, this is the joy of his way, 

And out of the earth shall others grow. 

Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, 

Neither will he help the evil doers. 

Till he fill thy mouth with laughing 
And thy lips with rejoicing. 


191 


They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; 

And the dwellingplace of the wicked shall come to nought. 

job’s Reply 9 Then Job answered and said, 

I know it is so of a truth. 

But how should man be just with God? 

If he will contend with him, 

He cannot answer him one of a thousand. 

• He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength. 

Who hath hardened himself against him, and hath pros- 
pered ? 

Which removeth the mountains, and they know not; 
Which overturneth them in his anger; 

Which shaketh the earth out of her place, 

And the pillars thereof tremble; 

Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not ; 

And sealeth up the stars; 

Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, 

And treadeth upon the waves of the sea; 

Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, 

And the chambers of the south; 

Which doeth great things past finding out ; 

Yea, and wonders without number. 

Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not ; 

He passeth on also, but I perceive him not. 

Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? 

Who will say unto him, What doest thou? 

If God will not withdraw his anger, 

The proud helpers do stoop under him. 

How much less shall I answer him, 

And choose out my words to reason with him? 

Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, 
But I would make supplication to my judge. 

If I had called, and he had answered me, 


192 


Yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my 
voice. 

For he breaketh me with a tempest, 

And multiplieth my wounds without cause. 

He will not suffer me to take my breath, 

But filleth me with bitterness. 

If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong; 

And if of judgment, Who shall set me a time to plead? 

If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me; 
If I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse. 
Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul ; 

I would despise my life. 

This is one thing, therefore I said it, 

He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked. 

If the scourge slay suddenly, 

He will laugh at the trial of the innocent. 

The earth is given into the hand of the wicked. 

He covereth the faces of the judges thereof. 

If not, where, and who is he? 

Now my days are swifter than a post; 

They flee away, they see no good. 

They are passed away as the swift ships ; 

As the eagle that hasteth to the prey. 

If I say, I will forget my complaint, 

I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself, 

I am afraid of all my sorrows, 

I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent. 

If I be wicked, 

Why then labour I in vain? 

If I wash myself with snow water, 

And make my hands never so clean, 

Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, 

And mine own clothes shall abhor me. 


193 


For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, 
And we should come together in judgment. 

Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, 

That might lay his hand upon us both. 

Let him take his rod away from me. 

And let not his fear terrify me. 

Then would I speak, and not fear him. 

But it is not so with me. 

10 My soul is weary of my life; 

I will leave my complaint upon myself; 

I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. 

I will say unto God, Do not condemn me ; 

Shew me wherefore thou contendest with me. 

Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, 

That thou shouldest despise the work of thine hands, 
And shine upon the counsel of the wicked? 

Hast thou eyes of flesh? 

Or seest thou as man seeth? 

Are thy days as the days of man? 

Are thy years as man's days, 

That thou inquirest after mine iniquity, 

And searchest after my sin? 

Thou knowest that I am not wicked ; 

And there is none that can deliver out of thine hand. 

Thine hands have made me 

And fashioned me together round about; 

Yet thou dost destroy me. 

Remember, I beseech thee, 

That thou hast made me as the clay; 

And wilt thou bring me into dust again? 

Hast thou not poured me out as milk, 

And curdled me like cheese? 

Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, 


194 


And hast fenced me with bones and sinews. 

Thou hast granted me life and favour, 

And thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. 

And these things hast thou hid in thine heart; 

I know that this is with thee. 

If I sin, then thou markest me, 

And thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity. 

If I be wicked, woe unto me, 

And if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. 

I am full of confusion ; 

Therefore see thou mine affliction ; for it increaseth. 

Thou huntest me as a fierce lion; 

And again thou shewest thyself marvellous upon me. 
Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, 

And increaseth thine indignation upon me ; 

Changes and war are against me. 

Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the 
womb? 

Oh that I had given up the ghost, 

And no eye had seen me! 

I should have been as though I had not been ; 

I should have been carried from the womb to the grave. 

Are not my days few? 

Cease then, and let me alone, 

That I may take comfort a little, 

Before I go whence I shall not return, 

Even to the land of darkness, and the shadow of death; 
A land of darkness, as darkness itself; 

And of the shadow of death, without any order, 

And where the light is as darkness. 

11 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said, 

Should not the multitude of words be answered ? 

And should a man full of talk be justified? 


The First Speech 
of Zophar 


195 


Should thy lies make men hold their peace? 

And when thou mockest, shall no man make thee 
ashamed ? 

For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, 

And I am clean in thine eyes. 

But oh that God would speak, 

And open his lips against thee ; 

And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, 

That they are double to that which is ! 

Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less 
Than thine iniquity deserveth. 

Canst thou by searching find out God? 

Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection ? 

It is as high as heaven ; what canst thou do ? 

Deeper than hell; what canst thou know? 

The measure thereof is longer than the earth, 

And broader than the sea. 

If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, 

Then who can hinder him? 

For he knoweth vain men. 

He seeth wickedness also; 

Will he not then consider it? 

For vain man would be wise, 

Though man be born like a wild ass's colt. 

If thou prepare thine heart, 

And stretch out thine hands toward him; 

If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, 

And let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles. 

For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot ; 

Yea, thou shalt be steadfast, and shalt not fear. 

Because thou shalt forget thy misery, 

And remember it as waters that pass away. 


196 


And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; 

Thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning. 

And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; 

Yea, thou shalt dig about thee, 

And thou shalt take thy rest in safety. 

Also thou shalt lie down, 

And none shall make thee afraid ; 

Yea, many shall make suit unto thee. 

But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, 

And they shall not escape, 

And their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost. 

12 And Job answered and said, 

No doubt but ye are the people, 

And wisdom shall die with you. 

But I have understanding as well as you; 

I am not inferior to you. 

Yea who knoweth not such things as these? 

I am as one mocked of his neighbour, 

Who calleth upon God, and he answereth him ; 

The just upright man is laughed to scorn. 

He that is ready to slip with his feet 

Is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease. 

The tabernacles of robbers prosper, 

And they that provoke God are secure; 

Into whose hand God bringeth abundantly. 

But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; 

And the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee; 

Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; 

And the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. 

Who knoweth not in all these 

That the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? 


Job’s Answer 


197 


In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, 

And the breath of all mankind. 

Doth not the ear try words ? 

And the mouth taste his meat? 

With the ancient is wisdom; 

And in length of days understanding. 

With him is wisdom and strength; 

He hath counsel and understanding. 

Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again; 
He shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening. 
Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up ; 

Also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth. 

With him is strength and wisdom; 

The deceived and the deceiver are his. 

He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, 

And maketh the judges fools. 

He looseth the bond of kings, 

And girdeth their loins with a girdle. 

He leadeth princes away spoiled, 

And overthroweth the mighty. 

He moveth away the speech of the trusty, 

And taketh away the understanding of the aged. 

He poureth contempt upon princes, 

And weakeneth the strength of the mighty. 

He discovereth deep things out of darkness, 

And bringeth out to light the shadow of death. 

He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them ; 

He enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again. 
He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of 
the earth, 

And causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there 
is no way. 


198 


They grope in the dark without light, 

And he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man. 

13 Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, 

Mine ear hath heard and understood it. 

What ye know, the same do I know also ; 

I am not inferior unto you. 

Surely I would speak to the Almighty, 

And I desire to reason with God. 

But ye are forgers of lies, 

Ye are all physicians of no value. 

Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace! 

And it should be your wisdom. 

Hear now my reasoning, 

And hearken to the pleadings of my lips. 

Will ye speak wickedly for God? 

And talk deceitfully for him? 

Will ye accept his person? 

Will ye contend for God? 

Is it good that he should search you out? 

Or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him? 

He will surely reprove you, 

If ye do secretly accept persons. 

Shall not his excellency make you afraid? 

And his dread fall upon you? 

Your remembrances are like unto ashes, 

Your bodies to bodies of clay. 

Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, 

And let come on me what will. 

Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, 

And put my life in mine hand? 

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him ; 

But I will maintain mine own ways before him. 


199 


Job’s Reflections 
on Life and on the 
Greatness of God 


He also shall be my salvation ; 

For a hypocrite shall not come before him. 

Hear diligently my speech, 

And my declaration with your ears. 

Behold now, I have ordered my cause ; 

I know that I shall be justified. 

Who is he that will plead with me? 

For now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost. 
Only do not two things unto me; 

Then will I not hide myself from thee. 

Withdraw thine hand far from me; 

And let not thy dread make me afraid. 

Then call thou, and I will answer ; 

Or let me speak, and answer thou me. 

How many are mine iniquities and sins? 

Make me to know my transgression and my sin. 

Wherefore hidest thou thy face, 

And holdest me for thine enemy? 

Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? 

And wilt thou pursue the dry stubble? 

For thou writest bitter things against me, 

And makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth. 
Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, 

And lookest narrowly unto all my paths ; 

Thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet. 

And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, 

As a garment that is motheaten. 

14 Man that is born of a woman 

Is of few days, and full of trouble. 

He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down ; 

He fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. 

And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, 


200 


And bringest me into judgment with thee? 

Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one. 

Seeing his days are determined, 

The number of his months are with thee, 

Thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass ; 
Turn from him, that he may rest, 

Till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day. 

For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down. 

That it will sprout again, 

And that the tender branch thereof will not cease. 
Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, 

And the stock thereof die in the ground, 

Yet through the scent of water it will bud, 

And bring forth boughs like a plant. 

But man dieth, and wasteth away; 

Yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? 

As the waters fail from the sea, 

And the flood decayeth and drieth up, 

So man lieth down, and riseth not. 

Till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, 

Nor be raised out of their sleep. 

0 that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, 

That thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be 
past, 

That thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remem- 
ber me! 

If a man die, shall he live again? 

All the days of my appointed time will I wait, 

Till my change come. 

Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee; 

Thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands. 

For now thou numberest my steps. 

Dost thou not watch over my sin? 


201 


The Second Speech 
of Eliphaz 


My transgression is sealed up in a bag, 

And thou sewest up mine iniquity. 

And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, 

And the rock is removed out of his place. 

The waters wear the stones. 

Thou washest away the things 

Which grow out of the dust of the earth; 

And thou destroyest the hope of man. 

Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth; 
Thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away. 
His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not ; 

And they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of 
them. 

But his flesh upon him shall have pain, 

And his soul within him shall mourn. 

► Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said, 

Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, 

And fill his belly with the east wind ? 

Should he reason with unprofitable talk? 

Or with speeches wherewith he can do no good? 

Yea, thou castest off fear, 

And restrainest prayer before God. 

For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, 

And thou chooseth the tongue of the crafty. 

Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I; 

Yea, thine own lips testify against thee. 

Art thou the first man that was born? 

Or wast thou made before the hills? 

Hast thou heard the secret of God? 

And dost thou restrain wisdom to thyself? 

What knowest thou, that we know not? 

What understandeth thou, which is not in us? 

With us are both the grayheaded and very aged men, 


202 


Much elder than thy father. 

Are the consolations of God small with thee? 

Is there any secret thing with thee? 

Why doth thine heart carry thee away? 

And what do thy eyes wink at, 

That thou turnest thy spirit against God, 

And lettest such words go out of thy mouth? 

What is man, that he should be clean? 

And he which is born of a woman, 

That he should be righteous? 

Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints ; 

Yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight. 

How much more abominable and filthy is man, 

Which drinketh iniquity like water? 

I will shew thee, hear me ; 

And that which I have seen I will declare; 

Which wise men have told from their fathers, 

And have not hid it; 

Unto whom alone the earth was given, 

And no stranger passed among them. 

The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, 

And the number of years is hidden to the oppressor. 

A dreadful sound is in his ears. 

In prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him. 

He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, 
And he is waited for of the sword. 

He wandereth abroad for bread, 

Saying, Where is it? 

He knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand. 
Trouble and anguish shall make him afraid; 

They shall prevail against him, 

As a king ready to the battle. 

For he stretcheth out his hand against God, 

And strengthened himself against the Almighty. 


203 


He runneth upon him, even on his neck, 

Upon the thick bosses of his bucklers; 

Because he covereth his face with his fatness, 

And maketh collops of fat on his flanks. 

And he dwelleth in desolate cities, 

And in houses which no man inhabiteth, 

Which are ready to become heaps. 

He shall not be rich, 

Neither shall his substance continue, 

Neither shall he prolong the perfection thereof upon the 
earth. 

He shall not depart out of darkness ; 

The flame shall dry up his branches, 

And by the breath of his mouth shall he go away. 

Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity ; 

For vanity shall be his recompense. 

It shall be accomplished before his time, 

And his branch shall not be green. 

He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, 

And shall cast off his flower as the olive. 

For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, 
And fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery. 

They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, 

And their belly prepareth deceit. 

job’s Answer 16 Then Job answered and said, 

I have heard many such things; 

Miserable comforters are ye all. 

Shall vain words have an end? 

Or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest? 

I also could speak as ye do. 

If your soul were in my soul's stead, 

I could heap up words against you, 

And shake mine head at you. 


204 


But I would strengthen you with my mouth, 

And the moving of my lips should assuage your grief. 

Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged ; 

And though I forbear, what am I eased? 

But now he hath made me weary; 

Thou hast made desolate all my company. 

And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, 

Which is a witness against me; 

And my leanness rising up in me 
Beareth witness to my face. 

He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me ; 

He gnasheth upon me with his teeth; 

Mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me. 

They have gaped upon me with their mouth; 

They have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; 
They have gathered themselves together against me. 

God hath delivered me to the ungodly, 

And turned me over into the hands of the wicked. 

I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder; 

He hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to 
pieces, 

And set me up for his mark. 

His archers compass me round about ; 

He cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare ; 

He poureth out my gall upon the ground. 

He breaketh me with breach upon breach ; 

He runneth upon me like a giant. 

I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, 

And defiled my horn in the dust. 

My face is foul with weeping, 

And on my eyelids is the shadow of death ; 

Not for any injustice in mine hands. 

Also my prayer is pure. 


205 


0 earth, cover not thou my blood, 

And let my cry have no place. 

Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, 

And my record is on high. 

My friends scorn me; 

But mine eye poureth out tears unto God. 

Oh that one might plead for a man with God, 

As a man pleadeth for his neighbour ! 

When a few years are come, 

Then I shall go the way whence I shall not return. 

17 My breath is corrupt, 

My days are extinct, 

The graves are ready for me. 

Are there not mockers with me? 

And doth not mine eye continue in their provocation? 
Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee. 

Who is he that will strike hands with me? 

For thou hast hid their heart from understanding; 
Therefore shalt thou not exalt them. 

He that speaketh flattery to his friends, 

Even the eyes of his children shall fail. 

He hath made me also a byword of the people; 

And aforetime I was as a tabret. 

Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, 

And all my members a re as a shadow. 

Upright men shall be astonied at this, 

And the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypo- 
crite. 

The righteous also shall hold on his way, 

And he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and 
stronger. 

But as for you all, do ye return, and come now; 


206 


For I cannot find one wise man among you. 

My days are past, 

My purposes are broken off, 

Even the thoughts of my heart. 

They change the night into day; 

The light is short because of darkness. 

If I wait, the grave is mine house; 

I have made my bed in the darkness. 

I have said to corruption. Thou art my father ; 

To the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister. 

And where is now my hope? 

As for my hope, who shall see it? 

They shall go down to the bars of the pit, 

When our rest together is in the dust. 

18 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said, The second speech 

of Bildad 

How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? 

Mark, and afterwards we will speak. 

Wherefore are we counted as beasts, 

And reputed vile in your sight? 

He teareth himself in his anger. 

Shall the earth be forsaken for thee? 

And shall the rock be removed out of his place? 

Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, 

And the spark of his fire shall not shine. 

The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, 

And his candle shall be put out with him. 

The steps of his strength shall be straitened, 

And his own counsel shall cast him down. 

For he is cast into a net by his own feet, 

And he walketh upon a snare. 

The gin shall take him by the heel, 


207 


And the robber shall prevail against him. 

The snare is laid for him in the ground, 

And a trap for him in the way. 

Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, 

And shall drive him to his feet. 

His strength shall be hungerbitten, 

And destruction shall be ready at his side. 

It shall devour the strength of his skin; 

Even the firstborn of death shall devour his strength. 

His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle, 

And it shall bring him to the king of terrors. 

It shall dwell in his tabernacle, because it is none of his. 
Brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation. 

His roots shall be dried up beneath, 

And above shall his branch be cut off. 

His remembrance shall perish from the earth, 

And he shall have no name in the street. 

He shall be driven from light into darkness, 

And chased out of the world. 

He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, 
Nor any remaining in his dwellings. 

They that come after him shall be astonied at his day, 
As they that went before were affrighted. 

Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, 

And this is the place of him that knoweth not God. 

job’s Reply £9 Then Job answered and said, 

How long will ye vex my soul, 

And break me in pieces with words? 

These ten times have ye reproached me ; 

Ye are not ashamed that ye make yourselves strange to 
me. 

And be it indeed that I have erred, 

Mine error remaineth with myself. 


208 


If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, 

And plead against me my reproach, 

Know now that God hath overthrown me, 

And hath compassed me with his net. 

Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard ; 

I cry aloud, but there is no judgment. 

He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, 

And he hath set darkness in my paths. 

He hath stripped me of my glory, 

And taken the crown from my head. 

He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone; 
And mine hope hath he removed like a tree. 

He hath also kindled his wrath against me, 

And he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies. 

His troops come together, 

And raise up their way against me, 

And encamp round about my tabernacle. 

He hath put my brethren far from me, 

And mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me. 

My kinsfolk have failed, 

And my familiar friends have forgotten me. 

They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me 
for a stranger; 

I am an alien in their sight. 

I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; 

I entreated him with my mouth. 

My breath is strange to my wife, 

Though I entreated for the children’s sake of mine own 
body. 

Yea, young children despised me; 

I arose, and they spake against me. 

All my inward friends abhorred me; 

And they whom I loved are turned against me. 


209 


My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, 

And I am escaped with the skin of my teeth. 

Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, 0 ye my friends ; 
For the hand of God hath touched me. 

Why do ye persecute me as God, 

And are not satisfied with my flesh ? 

Oh that my words were now written ! 

Oh that they were printed in a book ! 

That they were graven with an iron pen and lead 
In the rock for ever ! 

For I know that my Redeemer liveth, 

And that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth, 
And though after my skin worms destroy this body, 

Yet in my flesh shall I see God ; 

Whom I shall see for myself, 

And mine eyes shall behold, and not another ; 

Though my reins be consumed within me. 

But ye should say, Why persecute we him, 

Seeing the root of the matter is found in me? 

Be ye afraid of the sword; 

For wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, 
That ye may know there is a judgment. 

The second speech 20 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said, 

of Zophar 

Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, 

And for this I make haste. 

I have heard the check of my reproach, 

And the spirit of my understanding causeth me to 
answer. 

Knowest thou not this of old, 

Since man was placed upon earth, 

That the triumphing of the wicked is short, 

And the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment? 

Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, 


210 


And his head reach unto the clouds, 

Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung; 

They which have seen him shall say, Where is he ? 

He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found ; 
Yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night. 

The eye which saw him shall see him no more ; 

Neither shall his place any more behold him. 

His children shall seek to please the poor, 

And his hands shall restore their goods. 

His bones are full of the sin of his youth, 

Which shall lie down with him in the dust. 

Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, 

Though he hide it under his tongue; 

Though he spare it, and forsake it not, 

But keep it still within his mouth; 

Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, 

It is the gall of asps within him. 

He hath swallowed down riches, 

And he shall vomit them up again ; 

God shall cast them out of his belly. 

He shall suck the poison of asps; 

The viper's tongue shall slay him. 

He shall not see the rivers, the floods, 

The brooks of honey and butter. 

That which he laboured for shall he restore, 

And shall not swallow it down. 

According to his substance shall the restitution be, 

And he shall not rejoice therein. 

Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; 
Because he hath violently taken away a house which he 
builded not ; 

Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, 

He shall not save of that which he desired. 

There shall none of his meat be left ; 


211 


Therefore shall no man look for his goods. 

In the fullness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits ; 
Every hand of the wicked shall come upon him. 

When he is about to fill his belly, 

God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, 

And shall rain it upon him while he is eating. 

He shall flee from the iron weapon, 

And the bow of steel shall strike him through. 

It is drawn, and cometh out of the body ; 

Yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall. 

Terrors are upon him. 

All darkness shall be hid in his secret places. 

A fire not blown shall consume him. 

It shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle. 

The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; 

And the earth shall rise up against him. 

The increase of his house shall depart, 

And his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath. 

This is the portion of a wicked man from God, 

And the heritage appointed unto him by God. 

job’s Answer 21 But Job answered and said, 

Hear diligently my speech, 

And let this be your consolations. 

Suffer me that I may speak; 

And after that I have spoken, mock on. 

As for me, is my complaint to man? 

And if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled? 
Mark me, and be astonished, 

And lay your hand upon your mouth. 

Even when I remember I am afraid, 

And trembling taketh hold on my flesh. 

Wherefore do the wicked live, 


212 


Become old, yea, are mighty in power? 

Their seed is established in their sight with them, 

And their offspring before their eyes. 

Their houses are safe from fear, 

Neither is the rod of God upon them. 

Their bull gendereth, and faileth not ; 

Their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf. 

They send forth their little ones like a flock, 

And their children dance. 

They take the timbrel and harp, 

And rejoice at the sound of the organ. 

They spend their days in wealth, 

And in a moment go down to the grave. 

Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; 

For we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. 

What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? 

And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him ? 

Lo, their good is not in their hand; 

The counsel of the wicked is far from me. 

How oft is the candle of the wicked put out ! 

And how oft cometh their destruction upon them ! 

God distributeth sorrows in his anger. 

They are as stubble before the wind, 

And as chaff that the storm carrieth away. 

God layeth up his iniquity for his children ; 

He rewardeth him, and he shall know it. 

His eyes shall see his destruction, 

And he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty. 

For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, 

When the number of his months is cut off in the midst? 

Shall any teach God knowledge ? 

Seeing he judgeth those that are high. 


213 


The Third Speech 
of Eliphaz 


One dieth in his full strength, 

Being wholly at ease and quiet. 

His breasts are full of milk, 

And his bones are moistened with marrow. 

And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, 

And never eateth with pleasure. 

They shall lie down alike in the dust, 

And the worms shall cover them. 

Behold, I know your thoughts, 

And the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me. 

For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? 

And where are the dwellingplaces of the wicked? 

Have ye not asked them that go by the way ? 

And do ye not know their tokens, 

That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction ? 
They shall be brought forth to the day of wrath. 

Who shall declare his way to his face? 

And who shall repay him what he hath done ? 

Yet shall he be brought to the grave, 

And shall remain in the tomb. 

The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, 

And every man shall draw after him, 

As there are innumerable before him. 

How then comfort ye me in vain, 

Seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood? 

22 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, 

Can a man be profitable unto God, 

As he that is wise may be profitable unto himself? 

Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art right- 
eous? 

Or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect? 

Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? 

Will he enter with thee into judgment? 


214 


Is not thy wickedness great? 

And thine iniquities infinite? 

For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for 
nought, 

And stripped the naked of their clothing. 

Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, 

And thou hast withholden bread from the hungry. 

But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; 

And the honourable man dwelt in it. 

Thou hast sent widows away empty, 

And the arms of the fatherless have been broken. 
Therefore snares are round about thee, 

And sudden fear troubleth thee; 

Or darkness, that thou canst not see ; 

And abundance of waters cover thee. 

Is not God in the height of heaven? 

And behold the height of the stars, how high they are! 
And thou sayest, How doth God know ? 

Can he judge through the dark cloud? 

Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not ; 
And he walketh in the circuit of heaven. 

Hast thou marked the old way 
Which wicked men have trodden ? 

Which were cut down out of time, 

Whose foundation was overflown with a flood ; 

Which said unto God, Depart from us ; 

And what can the Almighty do for them? 

Yet he filled their houses with good things. 

But the counsel of the wicked is far from me. 

The righteous see it, and are glad; 

And the innocent laugh them to scorn. 

Whereas our substance is not cut down, 

But the remnant of them the fire consumeth. 


215 


Job’s Answer 


Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace; 

Thereby good shall come unto thee. 

Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, 

And lay up his words in thine heart. 

If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, 
Thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles. 
Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, 

And the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks. 

Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, 

And thou shalt have plenty of silver. 

For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, 
And shalt lift up thy face unto God. 

Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, 

And he shall hear thee, 

And thou shalt pay thy vows. 

Thou shalt also decree a thing, 

And it shall be established unto thee ; 

And the light shall shine upon thy ways. 

When men are cast down, 

Then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; 

And he shall save the humble person. 

He shall deliver the island of the innocent ; 

And it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands. 

23 Then Job answered and said, 

Even today is my complaint bitter; 

My stroke is heavier than my groaning. 

Oh that I knew where I might find him ! 

That I might come even to his seat ! 

I would order my cause before him, 

And fill my mouth with arguments. 

I would know the words which he would answer me, 
And understand what he would say unto me. 

Will he plead against me with his great power? 


216 


No; but he would put strength in me. 

There the righteous might dispute with him ; 

So should I be delivered for ever from my judge. 

Behold, I go forward, but he is not there ; 

And backward, but I cannot perceive him ; 

On the left hand, where he doth work, 

But I cannot behold him; 

He hideth himself on the right hand, 

That I cannot see him. 

But he knoweth the way that I take ; 

When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. 

My foot hath held his steps, 

His way have I kept, and not declined. 

Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his 
lips; 

I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my 
necessary food. 

But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? 

And what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. 

For he perf ormeth the thing that is appointed for me ; 
And many such things are with him. 

Therefore am I troubled at his presence; 

When I consider, I am afraid of him, 

For God maketh my heart soft, 

And the Almighty troubleth.me; 

Because I was not cut off before the darkness, 

Neither hath he covered the darkness from my face. 

24 Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, 
Do they that know him not see his days ? 

Some remove the landmarks; 

They violently take away flocks, and feed thereof. 

They drive away the ass of the fatherless, 

They take the widow's ox for a pledge. 

They turn the needy out of the way ; 


217 


The poor of the earth hide themselves together. 

Behold, as wild asses in the desert, they go forth to their 
work, 

Rising betimes for a prey; 

The wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their chil- 
dren. 

They reap every one his corn in the field ; 

And they gather the vintage of the wicked. 

They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, 

That they have no covering in the cold. 

They are wet with the showers of the mountains, 

And embrace the rock for want of a shelter. 

They pluck the fatherless from the breast, 

And take a pledge of the poor. 

They cause him to go naked without clothing, 

And they take away the sheaf from the hungry; 

Which make oil within their walls, 

And tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst. 

Men groan from out of the city, 

And the soul of the wounded crieth out; 

Yet God layeth not folly to them. 

They are of those that rebel against the light ; 

They know not the ways thereof, 

Nor abide in the paths thereof. 

The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and 
needy, 

And in the night is as a thief. 

The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, 
Saying, No eye shall see me; 

And he disguiseth his face. 

In the dark they dig through houses, 

Which they had marked for themselves in the daytime ; 
They know not the light. 

For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death ; 


218 


If one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow 
of death. 


He is swift as the waters; 

Their portion is cursed in the earth ; 

He beholdeth not the way of the vineyards. 

Drought and heat consume the snow waters; 

So doth the grave those which have sinned. 

The womb shall forget him; 

The worm shall feed sweetly on him; 

He shall be no more remembered ; 

And wickedness shall be broken as a tree. 

He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not ; 

And doeth not good to the widow. 

He draweth also the mighty with his power; 

He riseth up, and no man is sure of life. 

Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he 
resteth ; 

Yet his eyes are upon their ways. 

They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and 
brought low; 

They are taken out of the way as all other, 

And cut off as the tops of the ears of corn. 


And if it be not so now, 

Who will make me a liar, 

And make my speech nothing worth? 

25 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said, 

Dominion and fear are with him; 

He maketh peace in his high places. 

Is there any number of his armies ? 

And upon whom doth not his light arise ? 

How then can man be justified with God? 

Or how can he be clean that is born of a woman? 
Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; 


The Third Speech 
of Bildad 


219 


Yea, the stars are not pure in his sight. 

How much less man, that is a worm? 

And the son of man, which is a worm? 

job’s Reply 26 But Job answered and said, 

How hast thou helped him that is without power? 

How savest thou the arm that hath no strength? 

How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? 

And how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is ? 
To whom hast thou uttered words? 

And whose spirit came from thee? 

Dead things are formed from under the waters, 

And the inhabitants thereof. 

Hell is naked before him, 

And destruction hath no covering. 

He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, 

And hangeth the earth upon nothing. 

He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds ; 

And the cloud is not rent under them. 

He holdeth back the face of his throne, 

And spreadeth his cloud upon it. 

He hath compassed the waters with bounds, 

Until the day and night come to an end. 

The pillars of heaven tremble, 

And are astonished at his reproof. 

He divideth the sea with his power, 

And by his understanding he smiteth through the proud. 
By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens ; 

His hand hath formed the crooked serpent. 

Lo, these are parts of his ways ; 

But how little a portion is heard of him? 

But the thunder of his power who can understand? 

27 Moreover Job continued his parable, and said, 


220 


As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; 

And the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul ; 

All the while my breath is in me, 

And the spirit of God is in my nostrils ; 

My lips shall not speak wickedness, 

Nor my tongue utter deceit. 

God forbid that I should j ustif y you ; 

Till I die, I will not remove mine integrity from me. 

My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go ; 

My heart shall not reproach me so long as I live. 

Let mine enemy be as the wicked, 

And he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous. 

For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath 
gained, 

When God taketh away his soul ? 

Will God hear his cry 

When trouble cometh upon him ? 

Will he delight himself in the Almighty? 

Will he always call upon God? 

I will teach you by the hand of God ; 

That which is with the Almighty will I not conceal. 
Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; 

Why then are ye thus altogether vain? 

This is the portion of a wicked man with God, 

And the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive 
of the Almighty. 

If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword ; 

And his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread. 
Those that remain of him shall be buried in death ; 

And his widows shall not weep. 

Though he heap up silver as the dust, 

And prepare raiment as the clay ; 

He may prepare it, 

But the just shall put it on, 

221 


And the innocent shall divide the silver. 

He buildeth his house as a moth, 

And as a booth that the keeper maketh. 

The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered ; 
He openeth his eyes, and he is not. 

Terrors take hold on him as waters, 

A tempest stealeth him away in the night. 

The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth ; 

And as a storm hurleth him out of his place. 

For God shall cast upon him, and not spare. 

He would fain flee out of his hand. 

Men shall clap their hands at him, 

And shall hiss him out of his place. 

28 Surely there is a vein for the silver, 

And a place for gold where they fine it. 

Iron is taken out of the earth, 

And brass is moulten out of the stone. 

He setteth an end to darkness, 

And searcheth out all perfection ; 

The stones of darkness, and the shadow of death. 

The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant ; 

Even the waters forgotten of the foot; 

They are dried up, they are gone away from men. 

As for the earth, out of it cometh bread; 

And under it is turned up as it were fire. 

The stones of it are the place of sapphires ; 

And it hath dust of gold. 

There is a path which no fowl knoweth, 

And which the vulture's eye hath not seen ; 

The lion’s whelps have not trodden it, 

Nor the fierce lion passed by it. 

He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; 

He overturneth the mountains by the roots. 


222 


He cutteth out rivers among the rocks ; 

And his eye seeth every precious thing. 

He bindeth the floods from overflowing; 

And the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light. 

But where shall wisdom be found? 

And where is the place of understanding? 

Man knoweth not the price thereof; 

Neither is it found in the land of the living. 

The depth saith, It is not in me; 

And the sea saith, It is not with me. 

It cannot be gotten for gold, 

Neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof. 

It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, 

With the precious onyx, or the sapphire. 

The gold and the crystal cannot equal it; 

And the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold. 
No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls; 

For the price of wisdom is above rubies. 

The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, 

Neither shall it be valued with pure gold. 

Whence then cometh wisdom? 

And where is the place of understanding? 

Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, 

And kept close from the fowls of the air. 

Destruction and death say, 

We have heard the fame thereof with our ears. 

God understandeth the way thereof, 

And he knoweth the place thereof. 

For he looketh to the ends of the earth, 

And seeth under the whole heaven ; 

To make the weight for the winds; 

And he weigheth the waters by measure. 

When he made a decree for the rain, 


223 


And a way for the lightning of the thunder ; 

Then did he see it, and declare it ; 

He prepared it, yea, and searched it out. 

And unto man he said, Behold, 

The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; 

And to depart from evil is understanding. 

29 Moreover Job continued his parable, and said, 

Oh that I were as in months past, 

As in the days when God preserved me ; 

When his candle shined upon my head, 

And when by his light I walked through darkness ; 

As I was in the days of my youth, 

When the secret of God was upon my tabernacle; 

When the Almighty was yet with me, 

When my children were about me; 

When I washed my steps with butter, 

And the rock poured me out rivers of oil; 

When I went out to the gate through the city, 

When I prepared my seat in the street ! 

The young men saw me, and hid themselves ; 

And the aged arose, and stood up. 

The princes refrained talking, 

And laid their hand on their mouth. 

The nobles held their peace, 

And their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. 

When the ear heard me, then it blessed me ; 

And when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me; 
Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the 
fatherless, 

And him that had none to help him. 

The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon 
me; 

And I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. 

I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; 


224 


My judgment was as a robe and a diadem. 

I was eyes to the blind, 

And feet was I to the lame. 

I was a father to the poor ; 

And the cause which I knew not I searched out. 

And I brake the jaws of the wicked, 

And plucked the spoil out of his teeth. 

Then I said, I shall die in my nest, 

And I shall multiply my days as the sand. 

My root was spread out by the waters, 

And the dew lay all night upon my branch. 

My glory was fresh in me, 

And my bow was renewed in my hand. 

Unto me men gave ear, and waited, 

And kept silence at my counsel. 

After my words they spake not again ; 

And my speech dropped upon them. 

And they waited for me as for the rain; 

And they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain. 
If I laughed on them, they believed it not; 

And the light of my countenance they cast not down. 

I chose out their way, and sat chief, 

And dwelt as a king in the army, 

As one that comforteth the mourners. 

30 But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, 
Whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with 
the dogs of my flock. 

Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, 
In whom old age was perished? 

For want and famine they were solitary; 

Fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and 
waste ; 

Who cut up mallows by the bushes, 

And juniper roots for their meat. 


225 


They were driven forth from among men, 

(They cried after them as after a thief) 

To dwell in the cliffs of the valleys, 

In caves of the earth, and in the rocks. 

Among the bushes they brayed ; 

Under the nettles they were gathered together. 

They were children of fools, 

Yea, children of base men; 

They were viler than the earth. 

And now am I their song, 

Yea, I am their byword. 

They abhor me, they flee far from me, 

And spare not to spit in my face. 

Because he hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me, 

They have also let loose the bridle before me. 

Upon my right hand rise the youth; 

They push away my feet, 

And they raise up against me the ways of their destruc- 
tion. 

They mar my path, 

They set forward my calamity, 

They have no helper. 

They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters ; 

In the desolation they rolled themselves upon me. 

Terrors are turned upon me; 

They pursue my soul as the wind ; 

And my welfare passeth away as a cloud. 

And now my soul is poured out upon me ; 

The days of affliction have taken hold upon me. 

My bones are pierced in me in the night season ; 

And my sinews take no rest. 

By the great force of my disease is my garment changed ; 
It bindeth me about as the collar of my coat. 

He hath cast me into the mire, 

And I am become like dust and ashes. 


226 


I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me ; 

I stand up, and thou regardest me not. 

Thou art become cruel to me; 

With thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me. 
Thou liftest me up to the wind ; 

Thou causest me to ride upon it, and dissolvest my sub- 
stance. 

For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, 

And to the house appointed for all living. 

Howbeit he will not stretch out his hand to the grave, 
Though they cry in his destruction. 

Did not I weep for him that was in trouble ? 

Was not my soul grieved for the poor? 

When I looked for good, then evil came unto me ; 

And when I waited for light, there came darkness. 

My bowels boiled, and rested not; 

The days of affliction prevented me. 

I went mourning without the sun ; 

I stood up, and I cried in the congregation. 

I am a brother to dragons, 

And a companion to owls. 

My skin is black upon me, 

And my bones are burned with heat. 

My harp also is turned to mourning, 

And my organ into the voice of them that weep. 

31 I made a covenant with mine eyes; 

Why then should I think upon a maid? 

For what portion of God is there from above? 

And what inheritance of the Almighty from on high ? 

Is not destruction to the wicked? 

And a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity? 

Doth not he see my ways, 

And count all my steps ? 


227 


If I have walked with vanity, 

Or if my foot hath hasted to deceit, 

Let me be weighed in an even balance, 

That God may know mine integrity. 

If my step hath turned out of the way, 

And mine heart walked after mine eyes, 

And if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands, 

Then let me sow, and let another eat ; 

Yea, let my offspring be rooted out. 

If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, 

Or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door, 

Then let my wife grind unto another, 

And let others bow down upon her. 

For this is a heinous crime ; 

Yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges. 

For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, 

And would root out all mine increase. 

If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my 
maidservant, 

When they contended with me, 

What then shall I do when God riseth up? 

And when he visiteth, what shall I answer him? 

Did not he that made me in the womb make him? 

And did not one fashion us in the womb? 

If I have withheld the poor from their desire, 

Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail ; 

Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, 

And the fatherless hath not eaten thereof 
(For from my youth he was brought up with me, as 
with a father, 

And I have guided her from my mother's womb) ; 

If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, 

Or any poor without covering; 

If his loins have not blessed me, 


228 


And if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep ; 
If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, 

When I saw my help in the gate: 

Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, 

And mine arm be broken from the bone. 

For destruction from God was a terror to me, 

And by reason of his highness I could not endure. 

If I have made gold my hope, 

Or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence ; 

If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, 

And because mine hand had gotten much ; 

If I beheld the sun when it shined, 

Or the moon walking in brightness ; 

And my heart hath been secretly enticed, 

Or my mouth hath kissed my hand : 

This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge ; 
For I should have denied the God that is above. 

If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, 
Or lifted up myself when evil found him 
(Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin 
By wishing a curse to his soul) ; 

If the men of my tabernacle said not, 

Oh that we had of his flesh ! we cannot be satisfied. 

The stranger did not lodge in the street ; 

But I opened my doors to the traveller. 

If I covered my transgressions as Adam, 

By hiding mine iniquity in my bosom ; 

Did I fear a great multitude, 

Or did the contempt of families terrify me, 

That I kept silence, and went not out of the door? 

Oh that one would hear me! 

Behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, 
And that mine adversary had written a book. 

Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, 


229 


The Address 
of Elihu 


And bind it as a crown to me. 

I would declare unto him the number of my steps ; 

As a prince would I go near unto him. 

If my land cry against me, 

Or that the furrows likewise thereof complain ; 

If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, 

Or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life ; 

Let thistles grow instead of wheat, 

And cockle instead of barley. 

The words of Job are ended. 

32 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was 
righteous in his own eyes. Then was kindled the wrath of 
Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram ; 
against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified him- 
self rather than God. Also against his three friends was his 
wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had 
condemned Job. Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, 
because they were elder than he. When Elihu saw that there 
was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his 
wrath was kindled. 

And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and 

said, 

I am young, and ye are very old; 

Wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine 
opinion. 

I said, Days should speak, 

And multitude of years should teach wisdom. 

But there is a spirit in man ; 

And the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them under- 
standing. 

Great men are not always wise; 

Neither do the aged understand judgment. 

Therefore I said, Hearken to me ; 


230 


I also will shew mine opinion. 

Behold, I waited for your words ; 

I gave ear to your reasons, 

Whilst ye searched out what to say. 

Yea, I attended unto you, 

And, behold there was none of you that convinced Job, 
Or that answered his words; 

Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom. 

God thrusteth him down, not man. 

Now he hath not directed his words against me; 
Neither will I answer him with your speeches. 

They were amazed; they answered no more; they left 
off speaking. When I had waited (for they spake not, but 
stood still, and answered no more), I said, 

I will answer also my part; 

I also will shew mine opinion. 

For I am full of matter ; 

The spirit within me constraineth me. 

Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; 

It is ready to burst like new bottles. 

I will speak, that I may be refreshed ; 

I will open my lips and answer. 

Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person ; 
Neither let me give flattering titles unto man. 

For I know not to give flattering titles ; 

In so doing my Maker would soon take me away. 

33 Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, 

And hearken to all my words. 

Behold, now I have opened my mouth, 

My tongue hath spoken in my mouth. 

My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart; 


231 


And my lips shall utter knowledge clearly. 

The spirit of God hath made me, 

And the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. 

If thou canst answer me, 

Set thy words in order before me, 

Stand up. 

Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead ; 

I also am formed out of the clay. 

Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, 
Neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee. 

Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, 

And I have heard the voice of thy words, saying, 

I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; 
Neither is there iniquity in me. 

Behold, he findeth occasions against me, 

He counteth me for his enemy ; 

He putteth my feet in the stocks, 

He marketh all my paths. 

Behold, in this thou art not just. 

I will answer thee that God is greater than man. 

Why dost thou strive against him? 

For he giveth not account of any of his matters. 

For God speaketh once, yea, twice, 

Yet man perceiveth it not. 

In a dream, in a vision of the night, 

When deep sleep falleth upon men, 

In slumberings upon the bed; 

Then he openeth the ears of men, 

And sealeth their instruction, 

That he may withdraw man from his purpose, 

And hide pride from man. 

He keepeth back his soul from the pit, 


232 


And his life from perishing by the sword. 

He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, 

And the multitude of his bones with strong pain; 
So that his life abhorreth bread, 

And his soul dainty meat. 

His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen ; 
And his bones that were not seen stick out. 

Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, 

And his life to the destroyers. 

If there be a messenger with him, 

An interpreter, one among a thousand, 

To shew unto man his uprightness, 

Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, 

Deliver him from going down to the pit; 

I have found a ransom. 

His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s ; 

He shall return to the days of his youth ; 

He shall pray unto God, 

And he will be favourable unto him; 

And he shall see his face with joy; 

For he will render unto man his righteousness. 

He looketh upon men, 

And if any say I have sinned, 

And perverted that which was right, 

And it profited me not, 

He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, 
And his life shall see the light. 

Lo, all these things worketh God 
Oftentimes with man, 

To bring back his soul from the pit, 

To be enlightened with the light of the living. 

Mark well, 0 Job, hearken unto me; 

Hold thy peace, and I will speak. 

If thou hast anything to say, answer me ; 

Speak, for I desire to justify thee. 


233 


If not, hearken unto me; 

Hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom. 

34 Furthermore Elihu answered and said, 

Hear my words, 0 ye wise men ; 

And give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. 

For the ear trieth words, 

As the mouth tasteth meat. 

Let us choose to us judgment; 

Let us know among ourselves what is good. 

For Job hath said, I am righteous ; 

And God hath taken away my judgment. 

Should I lie against my right? 

My wound is incurable without transgression. 

What man is like Job, 

Who drinketh up scorning like water? 

Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, 
And walketh with wicked men. 

For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing 
That he should delight himself with God. 

Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding. 

Far be it from God, that he should do wickedness ; 

And from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity. 
For the work of a man shall he render unto him, 

And cause every man to find according to his ways. 

Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, 

Neither will the Almighty pervert judgment. 

Who hath given him a charge over the earth? 

Or who hath disposed the whole world? 

If he set his heart upon man, 

If he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; 

All fiesh shall perish together, 

And man shall turn again unto dust. 


234 


If now thou hast understanding, hear this ; 

Hearken to the voice of my words. 

Shall even he that hateth right govern ? 

And wilt thou condemn him that is most just? 

Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? 

And to princes, Ye are ungodly? 

How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of 
princes, 

Nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? 

For they all are the work of his hands. 

In a moment shall they die, 

And the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass 
away; 

And the mighty shall be taken away without hand. 

For his eyes are upon the ways of man, 

And he seeth all his goings. 

There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, 

Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. 

For he will not lay upon man more than right; 

That he should enter into judgment with God. 

He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, 
And set others in their stead. 

Therefore he knoweth their works, 

And he overturneth them in the night, 

So that they are destroyed. 

He striketh them as wicked men 
In the open sight of others; 

Because they turned back from him, 

And would not consider any of his ways ; 

So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, 
And he heareth the cry of the afflicted. 

When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? 
And when he hideth his face, who then can behold him ? 


235 


Whether it be done against a nation, or against a man 
only: 

That the hypocrite reign not. 

Lest the people be ensnared. 

Surely it is meet to be said unto God, 

I have borne chastisement, 

I will not offend any more. 

That which I see not teach thou me; 

If I have done iniquity, I will do no more. 

Should it be according to thy mind? 

He will recompense it, 

Whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose, 

And not I; 

Therefore speak what thou knowest. 

Let men of understanding tell me, 

And let a wise man hearken unto me. 

Job hath spoken without knowledge, 

And his words were without wisdom. 

My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end, 

Because of his answers for wicked men. 

For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, 

He clappeth his hands among us, 

And multiplieth his words against God. 

35 Elihu spake moreover, and said, 

Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, 

My righteousness is more than God's? 

For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? 
And, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my 
sin? 

I will answer thee, 

And thy companions with thee. 

Look unto the heavens, and see; 

And behold the clouds which are higher than thou. 


236 


If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? 

Or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou 
unto him? 

If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? 

Or what receiveth he of thine hand? 

Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art ; 

And thy righteousness may profit the son of man. 

By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the 
• oppressed to cry; 

They cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty. 

But none saith, Where is God my maker, 

Who giveth songs in the night; 

Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, 

And maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven? 

There they cry, but none giveth answer, 

Because of the pride of evil men. 

Surely God will not hear vanity, 

Neither will the Almighty regard it. 

Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, 

Yet judgment is before him; 

Therefore trust thou in him. 

But now, because it is not so, 

He hath visited in his anger; 

Yet he knoweth it not in great extremity. 

Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; 

He multiplieth words without knowledge. 

36 Elihu also proceeded, and said, 

Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee 
That I have yet to speak on God's behalf. 

I will fetch my knowledge from afar, 

And will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. 

For truly my words shall not be false. 

He that is perfect in knowledge is with thee. 


237 


Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any; 

He is mighty in strength and wisdom. 

He preserveth not the life of the wicked ; 

But giveth right to the poor. 

He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous ; 

But with kings are they on the throne ; 

Yea, he doth establish them forever, 

And they are exalted. 

And if they be found in fetters, 

And be holden in cords of affliction, 

Then he sheweth them their work, 

And their transgressions that they have exceeded. 

He openeth also their ear to discipline, 

And commandeth that they return from iniquity. 

If they obey and serve him, 

They shall spend their days in prosperity, 

And their years in pleasures. 

But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, 
And they shall die without knowledge. 

But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath; 

They cry not when he bindeth them. 

They die in youth, 

And their life is among the unclean. 

He delivereth the poor in his affliction, 

And openeth their ears in oppression. 

Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait 
Into a broad place, where there is no straitness; 

And that which should be set on thy table should be full 
of fatness. 

But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked; 
Judgment and justice take hold on thee. 

Because there is wrath, 

Beware lest he take thee away with his stroke ; 


23 * 


Then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. 

Will he esteem thy riches? 

No, not gold, nor all the forces of strength. 

Desire not the night, 

When people are cut off in their place. 

Take heed, regard not iniquity; 

For this hast thou choosen rather than affliction. 

Behold, God exalteth by his power. 

Who teacheth like him? 

Who hath enjoined him his way? 

Or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity? 

Remember that thou magnify his work, 

Which men behold. 

Every man may see it; 

Man may behold it afar off. 

Behold, God is great, and we know him not, 

Neither can the number of his years be searched out. 

For he maketh small the drops of water; 

They pour down rain according to the vapour thereof; 

Which the clouds do drop 

And distil upon man abundantly. 

Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, 
Or the noise of his tabernacle? 

Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, 

And covereth the bottom of the sea. 

For by them judgeth he the people; 

He giveth meat in abundance. 

With clouds he covereth the light; 

And commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that com- 
eth betwixt. 

The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, 

The cattle also concerning the vapour. 


239 


37 At this also my heart trembleth, 

And is moved out of his place. 

Hear attentively the noise of his voice, 

And the sound that goeth out of his mouth. 

He directeth it under the whole heaven, 

And his lightning unto the ends of the earth. 

After it a voice roareth; 

He thundereth with the voice of his excellency; 

And he will not stay them when his voice is heard. 

God thundereth marvellously with his voice ; 

Great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend. 
For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth ; 
Likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his 
strength. 

He sealeth up the hand of every man ; 

That all men may know his work. 

Then the beasts go into dens, 

And remain in their places. 

Out of the south cometh the whirlwind; 

And cold out of the north. 

By the breath of God frost is given; 

And the breadth of the waters is straitened. 

Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud ; 

He scattereth his bright cloud; 

And it is turned round about by his counsels, 

That they may do whatsoever he commandeth them 
Upon the face of the world in the earth. 

He causeth it to come, 

Whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy. 
Hearken unto this, 0 Job; 

Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. 

Dost thou know when God disposed them, 

And caused the light of his cloud to shine? 


240 


Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, 

The wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowl- 
edge? 

How thy garments are warm, 

When he quieteth the earth by the south wind ? 

Hast thou with him spread out the sky, 

Which is strong, and as a molten lookingglass? 

Teach us what we shall say unto him ; 

For we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness. 

Shall it be told him that I speak? 

If a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up. 

And now men see not the bright light which is in the 
clouds ; 

But the wind passeth, and cleanseth them. 

Fair weather cometh out of the north; 

With God is terrible majesty. 

Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out; 

He is excellent in power, and in judgment, 

And in plenty of justice; 

He will not afflict. 

Men do therefore fear him. 

He respecteth not any that are wise of heart. 

38 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and 
said, 

Who is this that darkeneth counsel 
By words without knowledge? 

Gird up now thy loins like a man; 

For I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. 

Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? 
Declare, if thou hast understanding. 

Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? 


The Lord’s 
Answer to 
job 


241 


Or who hath stretched the line upon it? 

Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? 

Or who laid the corner stone thereof ; 

When the morning stars sang together, 

And all the sons of God shouted for joy? 

Or who shut up the sea with doors, 

When it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb ? 
When I made the cloud the garment thereof, 

And thick darkness a swaddling band for it, 

And brake up for it my decreed place, 

And set bars and doors, and said, 

Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further; 

And here shall thy proud waves be stayed? 

Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days ; 

And caused the dayspring to know his place; 

That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, 

That the wicked might be shaken out of it? 

It is turned as clay to the seal; 

And they stand as a garment. 

And from the wicked their light is withholden, 

And the high arm shall be broken. 

Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? 

Or hast thou walked in the search of the depth ? 

Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? 

Or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death ? 

Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? 

Declare if thou knowest it all. 

Where is the way where light dwelleth? 

And as for darkness, where is the place thereof, 

That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, 

And that thou shouldest know the paths to the house 
thereof? 

Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? 

Or because the number of thy days is great? 


242 


Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? 

Or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, 

Which I have reserved against the time of trouble. 
Against the day of battle and war? 

By what way is the light parted, 

Which scattereth the east wind upon the earth? 

Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of 
waters, 

Or a way for the lightning of thunder; 

To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is ; 

On the wilderness, wherein there is no man; 

To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; 

And to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth? 
Hath the rain a father? 

Or who hath begotten the drops of dew? 

Out of whose womb came the ice? 

And the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it? 
The waters are hid as with a stone, 

And the face of the deep is frozen. 

Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, 

Or loose the bands of Orion? 

Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? 

Or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons ? 

Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? 

Canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth? 

Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, 

That abundance of waters may cover thee? 

Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, 

And say unto thee, Here we are? 

Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? 

Or who hath given understanding to the heart? 

Who can number the clouds in wisdom? 

Or who can stay the bottles of heaven, 


When the dust groweth into hardness, 

And the clods cleave fast together? 

Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? 

Or fill the appetite of the young lions, 

When they couch in their dens, 

And abide in the covert to lie in wait? 

Who provideth for the raven his food? 

When his young ones cry unto God, 

They wander for lack of meat. 

39 Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock 
bring forth? 

Or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve ? 

Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? 

Or knowest thou the time when they bring forth? 

They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, 
They cast out their sorrows. 

Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with 
corn; 

They go forth, and return not unto them. 

Who hath sent out the wild ass free? 

Or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass? 

Whose house I have made the wilderness, 

And the barren land his dwellings. 

He scorneth the multitude of the city, 

Neither regardeth he the crying of the driver. 

The range of the mountains is his pasture, 

And he searcheth after every green thing. 

Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, 

Or abide by thy crib? 

Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow ? 
Or will he harrow the valleys after thee? 

Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? 

Or wilt thou leave thy labour to him? 

Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, 
And gather it into thy barn ? 


244 


Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? 

Or wings and feathers unto the ostrich? 

Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, 

And warmeth them in dust, 

And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, 

Or that the wild beast may break them. 

She is hardened against her young ones, 

As though they were not hers; 

Her labour is in vain without fear; 

Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, 

Neither hath he imparted to her understanding. 

What time she lifteth up herself on high, 

She scorneth the horse and his rider. 

Hast thou giveth the horse strength? 

Hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? 

Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? 

The glory of his nostrils is terrible. 

He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength; 
He goeth on to meet the armed men. 

He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted ; 

Neither turneth he back from the sword. 

The quiver rattleth against him, 

The glittering spear and the shield. 

He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage; 
Neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. 
He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; 

And he smelleth the battle afar off, 

The thunder of the captains, and the shouting. 

Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, 

And stretch her wings toward the south? 

Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, 

And make her nest on high? 

She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, 

Upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place. 

From thence she seeketh the prey, 


245 


And her eyes behold afar off. 

Her young ones also suck up blood; 

And where the slain are, there is she. 

40 Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said, 

Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him ? 
He that reproveth God, let him answer it. 

Then Job answered the Lord, and said, 

Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? 

I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. 

Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: 

Yea, twice; but I will proceed no further. 

Then answered the Lord unto Job out of the whirlwind, 
and said, 

Gird up thy loins now like a man ; 

I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. 

Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? 

Wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous? 
Hast thou an arm like God ? 

Or canst thou thunder with a voice like him ? 

Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; 

And array thyself with glory and beauty. 

Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath; 

And behold every one that is proud, and abase him. 
Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; 
And tread down the wicked in their place. 

Hide them in the dust together; 

And bind their faces in secret. 

Then will I also confess unto thee 
That thine own right hand can save thee. 

Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee ; 

He eateth grass as an ox. 

Lo now, his strength is in his loins, 


246 


And his force is in the navel of his belly. 

He moveth his tail like a cedar; 

The sinews of his stones are wrapped together. 

His bones are as strong pieces of brass; 

His bones are like bars of iron. 

He is the chief of the ways of God ; 

He that made him can make his sword to approach unto 
him. 

Surely the mountains bring him forth food, 

Where all the beasts of the field play. 

He lieth under the shady trees, 

In the covert of the reed, and fens. 

The shady trees cover him with their shadow; 

The willows of the brook compass him about. 

Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not; 

He trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth. 
He taketh it with his eyes ; 

His nose pierceth through snares. 

41 Canst thou draw out leviathan with a hook? 

Or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down? 
Canst thou put a hook into his nose? 

Or bore his jaw through with a thorn? 

Will he make many supplications unto thee? 

Will he speak soft words unto thee? 

Will he make a covenant with thee? 

Wilt thou take him for a servant for ever? 

Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? 

Or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens ? 

Shall the companions make a banquet of him? 

Shall they part him among the merchants? 

Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? 

Or his head with fish spears? 

Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no 
more. 

Behold, the hope of him is in vain. 


247 


Shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him? 
None is so fierce that dare stir him up. 

Who then is able to stand before me? 

Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? 
Whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine. 

I will not conceal his parts, 

Nor his power, nor his comely proportion. 

Who can discover the face of his garment? 

Or who can come to him with his double bridle? 

Who can open the doors of his face? 

His teeth are terrible round about. 

His scales are his pride, 

Shut up together as with a close seal. 

One is so near to another, 

That no air can come between them. 

They are joined one to another, 

They stick together, that they cannot be sundered. 

By his neesings a light doth shine, 

And his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. 

Out of his mouth go burning lamps, 

And sparks of fire leap out. 

Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, 

As out of a seething pot or caldron. 

His breath kindleth coals, 

And a flame goeth out of his mouth. 

In his neck remaineth strength, 

And sorrow is turned into joy before him. 

The flakes of his flesh are joined together; 

They are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved. 

His heart is as firm as a stone; 

Yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone. 

When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid; 
By reason of breakings they purify themselves. 

The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold ; 

The spear, the dart, nor the habergeon. 


248 


He esteemeth iron as straw, 

And brass as rotten wood. 

The arrow cannot make him flee; 

Slingstones are turned with him into stubble. 

Darts are counted as stubble; 

He laugheth at the shaking of a spear. 

Sharp stones are under him; 

He spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire. 

He maketh the deep to boil like a pot; 

He maketh the sea like a pot of ointment. 

He maketh a path to shine after him; 

One would think the deep to be hoary. 

Upon earth there is not his like, 

Who is made without fear. 

He beholdeth all high things; 

He is a king over all the children of pride. 

42 Then Job answered the Lord, and said, 

I know that thou canst do every thing, 

And that no thought can be withholden from thee. 

Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? 
Therefore have I uttered that I understood not; 

Things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. 

Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak ; 

I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. 

I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; 

But now mine eye seeth thee. 

Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. 

And it was so, that after the Lord had spoken these 
words unto Job, the Lord said unto Eliphaz the Temanite, 
My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends ; 
for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my 
servant Job hath. Therefore take unto you now seven bul- 


Job Submits 


The Lord Blesses 
Job 


249 


locks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up 
for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray 
for you. For him will I accept: lest I deal with you after 
your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which 
is right, like my servant Job. 

So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and 
Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the Lord 
commanded them. The Lord also accepted Job. And the Lord 
turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends. 
Also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. 

Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his 
sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, 
and did eat bread with him in his house. And they bemoaned 
him, and comforted him over all the evil that the Lord had 
brought upon him. Every man also gave him a piece of 
money, and every one an earring of gold. 

So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his 
beginning ; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thou- 
sand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand 
she asses. He had also seven sons and three daughters. And 
he called the name of the first, Jemima ; and the name of the 
second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Keren-happuch. 
And in all the land were no women found so fair as the 
daughters of Job. And their father gave them inheritance 
among their brethren. 

After this lived Job a hundred and forty years, and saw 
his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations. So Job 
died, being old and full of days. 


THE BOOK OF PSALMS 


(Psalms Number 1, 6, 8, 19, 23, 2U, 31, 32, 38, U2, U6, 51, 
63, 67, 90, 92, 95, 96, 100, 102, 103, 120-13i, 137, 

139, US, U9, and 150) 

The Book of Psalms is a collection of religious poems composed at 
various times by various authors and combined and arranged to form 
what is generally admitted to be the hymn-book of the Second Temple. 
Most of the Psalms were composed after the Exile. That the Psalms 
ascribed to David were written by David himself, there is no proof. 
The more probable view is that these Psalms were written in various 
periods of Israelitish history from the time of David downwards, and 
that these poems, in keeping with the other Psalms, represent the experi- 
ences of many men and of many ages of the national life. Here, if 
anywhere in the Bible, we have an illustration of communal composition. 
This is poetry of the folk. 

Our Psalter is arranged in five volumes with a doxology at the end 
of each volume (see No. 41, 72, 89, 106, and 150). The Psalms of the 
first volume may be called personal lyrics; those of the second and third 
volumes, national lyrics; and those of the fourth and fifth volumes, 
liturgical lyrics. “Speaking generally, the Psalms consist of reflections, 
cast into a poetical form, upon the various aspects in which God mani- 
fests Himself either in nature, or towards Israel, or to the individual 
soul, accompanied often — or, indeed, usually — by an outpouring of the 
emotions and affections of the Psalmist. ... In some Psalms the tone 
is that of praise or thanksgiving, in others it is one of penitence or sup- 
plication, in others again it is meditative or didactic. . . , l 

Hebrew poetry is almost exclusively of two kinds — lyric and gnomic. 
Of the latter kind, that which consists of observations on human life 


1 Driver, Introduction to the Literature of the Old Testament, p. 368 


251 


and society, the poems of the Proverbs are good examples; of the former 
kind, we have the beautiful songs of the Psalter. “The Psalms are 
rightly called lyrics because they are concerned with the immediate and 
imaginative expression of real feeling. It is the personal and emotional 
note that predominates. ,, 1 

The significant principle of the form of Hebrew poetry is the paral- 
lelism of clauses. There is no rhyme, no metre in the strict sense of 
the word; instead we find a “certain equality, resemblance, or parallel- 
ism between the members of each period.” The lines, of approximately 
the same length, show a certain correspondence of sense and a parallelism 
of form. These lines are combined into groups of two, three, or four 
lines, or even more, indicating the divisions of the thought. The Psalms 
herein printed offer excellent illustrations of the various forms and 
arrangements of Hebrew verse. 


PSALM 1 

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the 
ungodly, 

Nor standeth in the way of sinners, 

Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 

But his delight is in the law of the Lord ; 

And in his law doth he meditate day and night. 

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, 
That bringeth forth his fruit in his season ; 

His leaf also shall not wither; 

And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 

The ungodly are not so; 

But are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, 
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 

For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous; 

But the way of the ungodly shall perish. 


'Van Dyke, The Poetry of the Psalms, in Moulton and Others, The 
Bible as Literature, New York, 1896 


252 


PSALM 6 


0 Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, 

Neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. 

Have mercy upon me, 0 Lord ; for I am weak. 

0 Lord, heal me ; for my bones are vexed. 

My soul is also sore vexed. 

But thou, 0 Lord, how long? 

Return, 0 Lord, deliver my soul; 

0 save me for thy mercies' sake. 

For in death there is no remembrance of thee; 

In the grave who shall give thee thanks. 

1 am weary with my groaning; 

All the night make I my bed to swim ; 

I water my couch with my tears. 

Mine eye is consumed because of grief; 

It waxeth old because of all mine enemies. 

Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; 

For the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping. 

The Lord hath heard my supplication; 

The Lord will receive my prayer. 

Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed ; 

Let them return and be ashamed suddenly. 

PSALM 8 
0 Lord our Lord 

How excellent is thy name in all the earth ! 

Who hast set thy glory above the heavens. 

Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings 

Hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, 

That thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. 

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, 
The moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained ; 

What is man, that thou art mindful of him? 


253 


And the son of man, that thou visitest him? 

For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, 
And hast crowned him with glory and honour. 

Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy 
hands ; 

Thou hast put all things under his feet, 

All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field ; 

The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, 

And whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. 

0 Lord our Lord 

How excellent is thy name in all the earth ! 


PSALM 19 

The heavens declare the glory of God; 

And the firmament sheweth his handywork. 

Day unto day uttereth speech, 

And night unto night sheweth knowledge. 

There is no speech nor language, 

Where their voice is not heard. 

Their line is gone out through all the earth, 

And their words to the end of the world. 

In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, 

Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, 

And rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. 

His going forth is from the end of the heaven, 

And his circuit unto the ends of it; 

And there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. 

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul ; 

The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. 
The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; 
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the 
eyes. 

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever ; 


254 


The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous 
altogether. 

More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine 
gold; 

Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 

Moreover by them is thy servant warned; 

And in keeping of them there is great reward. 

Who can understand his errors? 

Cleanse thou me from secret faults. 

Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins ; 

Let them not have dominion over me; 

Then shall I be upright, 

And I shall be innocent from the great transgression. 

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, 
Be acceptable in thy sight, . 

0 Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. 


PSALM 23 

The Lord is my shepherd ; I shall not want. 

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; 

He leadeth me beside the still waters. 

He restoreth my soul; 

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's 
sake. 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of 
death, 

I will fear no evil; 

For thou art with me; 

Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 

Thou preparest a table before me 
In the presence of mine enemies; 

255 


Thou anointest my head with oil; 

My cup runneth over. 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me 
All the days of my life; 

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. 


PSALM 24 

The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof ; 
The world, and they that dwell therein. 

For he hath founded it upon the seas, 

And established it upon the floods. 

Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? 

Or who shall stand in his holy place? 

He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; 

Who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, 

Nor sworn deceitfully. 

He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, 

And righteousness from the God of his salvation. 
This is the generation of them that seek him, 
That seek thy face, 0 Jacob. 

Lift up your heads, 0 ye gates ; 

And be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors ; 

And the king of glory shall come in. 

Who is this king of glory? 

The Lord strong and mighty, 

The Lord mighty in battle. 

Lift up your heads, 0 ye gates ; 

Even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; 

And the king of glory shall come in. 

Who is this king of glory? 


256 


The Lord of hosts, 

He is the king of glory. 


PSALM 31 

In thee, 0 Lord, do I put my trust; 

Let me never be ashamed. 

Deliver me in thy righteousness. 

Bow down thine ear to me ; deliver me speedily. 

Be thou my strong rock, 

For a house of defence to save me. 

For thou art my rock and my fortress; 

Therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me. 

Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me. 
For thou art my strength. 

Into thine hand I commit my spirit ; 

Thou hast redeemed me, 0 Lord God of truth. 

I have hated them that regard lying vanities ; 

But I trust in the Lord. 

I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy. 

For thou hast considered my trouble ; 

Thou hast known my soul in adversities; 

And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy ; 

Thou hast set my feet in a large room. 

Have mercy upon me, 0 Lord, for I am in trouble; 

Mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly. 
For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing ; 
My strength faileth because of mine iniquity, 

And my bones are consumed. 

I was a reproach among all mine enemies, 

But especially among my neighbours, 

And a fear to mine acquaintance ; 

They that did see me without fled from me. 

I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind ; 

I am like a broken vessel. 


257 


For I have heard the slander of many. 

Fear was on every side. 

While they took counsel together against me, 

They devised to take away my life. 

But I trusted in thee, 0 Lord ; 

I said, Thou art my God. 

My times are in thy hand ; 

Deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, 

And from them that persecute me. 

Make thy face to shine upon thy servant ; 

Save me for thy mercies' sake. 

Let me not be ashamed, 0 Lord ; 

For I have called upon thee ; 

Let the wicked be ashamed, 

And let them be silent in the grave. 

Let the lying lips be put to silence; 

Which speak grievous things 

Proudly and contemptuously against the righteous. 

Oh, how great is thy goodness, 

Which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee ; 

Which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee 
Before the sons of men! 

Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence 
From the pride of man; 

Thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion 
From the strife of tongues. 

Blessed be the Lord; 

For he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong 
city. 

For I said in my haste, 

I am cut off from before thine eyes ; 

Nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications 
When I cried unto thee. 

O love the Lord, all ye his saints ; 

For the Lord preserveth the faithful, 


258 


And plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. 

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart. 
All ye that hope in the Lord. 

PSALM 32 

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, 

Whose sin is covered. 

Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not 
iniquity, 

And in whose spirit there is no guile. 

When I kept silence, my bones waxed old 
Through my roaring all the day long. 

For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me ; 

My moisture is turned into the drought of summer. 

I acknowledged my sin unto thee, 

And mine iniquity have I not hid. 

I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord ; 

And thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. 

For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee 
In a time when thou mayest be found ; 

Surely in the floods of great waters 
They shall not come nigh unto him. 

Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from 
trouble ; 

Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. 

I will instruct thee and teach thee 
In the way which thou shalt go ; 

I will guide thee with mine eye. 

Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, 

Which have no understanding; 

Whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, 

Lest they come near unto thee. 


259 


Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; 

But he that trusteth in the Lord, 

Mercy shall compass him about. 

Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous; 

And shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart. 


PSALM 38 

0 Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath ; 

Neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. 

For thine arrows stick fast in me, 

And thy hand presseth me sore. 

There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger ; 
Neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. 
For mine iniquities are gone over mine head; 

As a heavy burden they are too heavy for me. 

My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. 

1 am troubled ; I am bowed down greatly ; 

I go mourning all the day long. 

For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease ; 

And there is no soundness in my flesh. 

I am feeble and sore broken; 

I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart. 

Lord, all my desire is before thee ; 

And my groaning is not hid from thee. 

My heart panteth, my strength faileth me ; 

As for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me. 

My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore ; 

And my kinsmen stand afar off. 

They also that seek after my life lay snares for me ; 

And they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, 

And imagine deceits all the day long. 

But I, as a deaf man, heard not; 

And I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth. 
Thus I was as a man that heareth not, 

And in whose mouth are no reproofs. 


260 


For in thee, 0 Lord, do I hope; 

Thou wilt hear, 0 Lord my God. 

For I said. Hear me, 

Lest otherwise they should rejoice over me. 

When my foot slippeth, 

They magnify themselves against me. 

For I am ready to halt, 

And my sorrow is continually before me. 

For I will declare mine iniquity; 

I will be sorry for my sin. 

But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong; 

And they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied. 

They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries ; 
Because I follow the thing that good is. 

Forsake me not, 0 Lord; 

O my God, be not far from me. 

Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation. 


PSALM 42 

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, 

So panteth my soul after thee, 0 God. 

My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God. 
When shall I come and appear before God? 

My tears have been my meat day and night, 
While they continually say unto me, 

Where is thy God? 

When I remember these things, 

I pour out my soul in me. 

For I had gone with the multitude, 

I went with them to the house of God, 

With the voice of joy and praise, 

With a multitude that kept holyday. 


261 


Why art thou cast down, 0 my soul ? 

And why art thou disquieted in me? 

Hope thou in God ; 

For I shall yet praise him 
For the help of his countenance. 

0 my God, my soul is cast down within me. 

Therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, 
And of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. 

Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts ; 

All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. 

Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the day 
time. 

And in the night his song shall be with me, 

And my prayer unto the God of my life. 

1 will say unto God my rock, 

Why hast thou forgotten me ? 

Why go I mourning 

Because of the oppression of the enemy? 

As with a sword in my bones, 

Mine enemies reproach me ; 

While they say daily unto me, 

Where is thy God? 

Why art thou cast down, 0 my soul? 

And why art thou disquieted within me ? 

Hope thou in God: 

For I shall yet praise him, 

Who is the help of my countenance, and my God. 

PSALM 46 

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in 
trouble. 

Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, 

262 


And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the 
. sea; 

Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, 

Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. 

There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the 
city of God, 

The holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. 

God is in the midst of her ; she shall not be moved ; 

God shall help her, and that right early. 

The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved; 

He uttered his voice, the earth melted. 

The Lord of hosts is with us; 

The God of Jacob is our refuge. 

Come, behold the works of the Lord, 

What desolations he hath made in the earth. 

He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth ; 

He breaketh the bow and cutteth the spear in sunder; 

He burneth the chariot in the fire. 

Be still, and know that I am God. 

I will be exalted among the heathen, 

I will be exalted in the earth. 

The Lord of hosts is with us ; 

The God of Jacob is our refuge. 


PSALM 51 

Have mercy upon me, 0 God, according to thy loving- 
kindness ; 

According unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot 
out my transgressions. 

Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, 

And cleanse me from my sin. 


263 


For I acknowledge my transgressions ; 

And my sin is ever before me. 

Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, 

And done this evil in thy sight ; 

That thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, 

And be clear when thou judgest. 

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; 

And in sin did my mother conceive me. 

Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts ; 

And in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; 

Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 

Make me to hear joy and gladness ; 

That the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 

Hide thy face from my sins, 

And blot out all mine iniquities. 

Create in me a clean heart, 0 God; 

And renew a right spirit within me. 

Cast me not away from thy presence ; 

And take not thy holy spirit from me. 

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; 

And uphold me with thy free spirit. 

Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; 

And sinners shall be converted unto thee. 

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, 0 God, thou God of my 
salvation ; 

And my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. 

0 Lord, open thou my lips; 

And my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. 

For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it; 

Thou delightest not in burnt offering. 


264 


The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; 

A broken and a contrite heart, 0 God, thou wilt not despise. 

Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion ; 

Build thou the walls of Jerusalem. 

Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteous- 
ness, 

With burnt offering and whole burnt offering; 

Then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar. 


PSALM 63 

0 God, thou art my God ; early will I seek thee ; 

My soul thirsteth for thee ; my flesh longeth for thee 
In a dry and thirsty land, where no water is ; 

To see thy power and thy glory, 

So as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. 

Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, 

My lips shall praise thee. 

Thus will I bless thee while I live; 

1 will lift up my hands in thy name. 

My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, 
And my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips; 
When I remember thee upon my bed, 

And meditate on thee in the night watches. 

Because thou hast been my help, 

Therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. 

My soul followeth hard after thee; 

Thy right hand upholdeth me. 

But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, 

Shall go into the lower parts of the earth. 

They shall fall by the sword ; 

They shall be a portion for foxes. 

But the king shall rejoice in God; 


265 


Every one that sweareth by him shall glory; 

But the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped. 

PSALM 67 

God be merciful unto us, and bless us ; 

And cause his face to shine upon us; 

That thy way may be known upon earth, 

Thy saving health among all nations. 

Let the people praise thee, 0 God ; 

Let all the people praise thee. 

O let the nations be glad and sing for joy; 

For thou shalt judge the people righteously, 

And govern the nations upon earth. 

Let the people praise thee, 0 God ; 

Let all the people praise thee. 

Then shall the earth yield her increase; 

And God, even our own God, shall bless us. 

God shall bless us; 

And all the ends of the earth shall fear him. 

PSALM 90 

Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. 
Before the mountains were brought forth, 

Or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, 

Even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. 

Thou turnest man to destruction ; 

And sayest, return, ye children of men. 

For a thousand years in thy sight 
Are but as yesterday when it is past, 

And as a watch in the night. 

Thou carriest them away as with a flood; 

They are as a sleep. 


266 


In the morning they are like grass which groweth up ; 

In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up ; 

In the evening it is cut down, and withereth. 

For we are consumed by thine anger, 

And by thy wrath are we troubled. 

Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, 

Our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. 

For all our days are passed away in thy wrath; 

We spend our years as a tale that is told. 

The days of our years are threescore years and ten ; 

And if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, 

Yet is their strength labour and sorrow; 

For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 

Who knoweth the power of thine anger? 

Even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. 

So teach us to number our days, 

That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. 

Return, 0 Lord, how long? 

And let it repent thee concerning thy servants. 

O satisfy us early with thy mercy; 

That we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 

Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast 
afflicted us, 

And the years wherein we have seen evil. 

Let thy work appear unto thy servants, 

And thy glory unto their children. 

And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us ; 

And establish thou the work of our hands upon us; 

Yea, the work of our hands establish thou it. 

PSALM 92 

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, 

And to sing praises unto thy name, 0 most High; 

To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, 


267 


And thy faithfulness every night, 

Upon an instrument of ten strings and upon the psaltery; 
Upon the harp with a solemn sound. 

For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work ; 

I will triumph in the works of thy hands. 

0 Lord, how great are thy works ! 

And thy thoughts are very deep. 

A brutish man knoweth not ; 

Neither doth a fool understand this. 

When the wicked spring as the grass, 

And when all the workers of iniquity do flourish, 

It is that they shall be destroyed for ever ; 

But thou, Lord, art most high for evermore. 

For, lo, thine enemies, 0 Lord, 

For, lo, thine enemies shall perish; 

All the workers of iniquity shall be scattered. 

But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of a unicorn. 

1 shall be anointed with fresh oil. 

Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies, 

And mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked 
That rise up against me. 

The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree; 

He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 

Those that be planted in the house of the Lord 
Shall flourish in the courts of our God. 

They shall bring forth fruit in old age; 

They shall be fat and flourishing; 

To shew that the Lord is upright. 

He is my rock, 

And there is no unrighteousness in him. 

PSALM 95 

0 come, let us sing unto the Lord ; 

Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. 


268 


Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, 
And make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. 

For the Lord is a great God, 

And a great King above all gods. 

In his hand are the deep places of the earth ; 

The strength of the hills is his also. 

The sea is his, and he made it; 

And his hands formed the dry land. 

O come, let us worship and bow down; 

Let us kneel before the Lord our maker. 

For he is our God ; 

And we are the people of his pasture, 

And the sheep of his hand. 

To day if ye will hear his voice, 

Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, 

And as in the day of temptation in the wilderness ; 
When your fathers tempted me, 

Proved me, and saw my work. 

Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, 
And said, It is a people that do err in their heart, 
And they have not known my ways; 

Unto whom I sware in my wrath 
That they should not enter into my rest. 


PSALM 96 

0 sing unto the Lord a new song; 

Sing unto the Lord, all the earth. 

Sing unto the Lord, bless his name ; 

Shew forth his salvation from day to day. 
Declare his glory among the heathen, 

His wonders among all people. 

For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised ; 
He is to be feared above all gods. 


269 


For all the gods of the nations are idols ; 

But the Lord made the heavens. 

Honour and majesty are before him; 

Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. 

Give unto the Lord, 0 ye kindreds of the people, 

Give unto the Lord glory and strength. 

Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name ; 

Bring an offering and come into his courts. 

0 worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness ; 

Fear before him, all the earth. 

Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth. 

The world also shall be established 
That it shall not be moved. 

He shall judge the people righteously. 

Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; 

Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. 

Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein; 

Then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord. 
For he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth; 

He shall judge the world with righteousness, 

And the people with his truth. 


PSALM 100 

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. 
Serve the Lord with gladness; 

Come before his presence with singing. 

Know ye that the Lord he is God. 

It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves ; 
We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, 

And into his courts with praise ; 

Be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 


270 


For the Lord is good; 

His mercy is everlasting; 

And his truth endureth to all generations. 


PSALM 102 

Hear my prayer, O Lord, 

And let my cry come unto thee. 

Hide not thy face from me 
In the day when I am in trouble ; 

Incline thine ear unto me ; 

In the day when I call answer me speedily. 

For my days are consumed like smoke, 

And my bones are burned as a hearth. 

My heart is smitten, and withered like grass ; 

So that I forget to eat my bread. 

By reason of the voice of my groaning 
My bones cleave to my skin. 

I am like a pelican of the wilderness ; 

I am like an owl of the desert; 

I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top. 

Mine enemies reproach me all the day; 

And they that are mad against me are sworn against me. 
For I have eaten ashes like bread, 

And mingled my drink with weeping, 

Because of thine indignation and thy wrath; 

For thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down. 

My days are like a shadow that declineth; 

And I am withered like grass. 

But thou, 0 Lord, shalt endure for ever; 

And thy remembrance unto all generations. 

Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion; 

For the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come. 
For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, 

271 


And favour the dust thereof. 

So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord, 

And all the kings of the earth thy glory. 

When the Lord shall build up Zion, 

He shall appear in his glory. 

He will regard the prayer of the destitute, 

And not despise their prayer. 

This shall be written for the generation to come ; 

And the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord. 

For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary ; 
From heaven did the Lord behold the earth; 

To hear the groaning of the prisoner; 

To loose those that are appointed to death; 

To declare the name of the Lord in Zion, 

And his praise in Jerusalem; 

When the people are gathered together, 

And the kingdoms, to serve the Lord. 

He weakened my strength in the way; 

He shortened my days. 

I said, 0 my God, take me not away in the midst of my days. 

Thy years are throughout all generations. 

Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth ; 

And the heavens are the work of thy hands. 

They shall perish, but thou shalt endure. 

Yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; 

As a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be 
changed ; 

But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. 
The children of thy servants shall continue, 

And their seed shall be established before thee. 

PSALM 103 

Bless the Lord, 0 my soul; 

And all that is within me, bless his holy name. 


272 


Bless the Lord, 0 my soul, 

And forget not all his benefits. 

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; 

Who healeth all thy diseases; 

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; 

Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies ; 
Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; 

So that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. 

The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment 
For all that are oppressed. 

He made known his ways unto Moses, 

His acts unto the children of Israel. 

The Lord is merciful and gracious, 

Slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. 

He will not always chide; 

Neither will he keep his anger for ever. 

He hath not dealt with us after our sins; 

Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 

For as the heaven is high above the earth, 

So great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 

As far as the east is from the west, 

So far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 

Like as a father pitieth his children, 

So the Lord pitieth them that fear him. 

For he knoweth our frame; 

He remembereth that we are dust. 

As for man, his days are as grass; 

As a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. 

For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone ; 

And the place thereof shall know it no more. 

But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to ever- 
lasting 

Upon them that fear him, 


273 


And his righteousness unto children's children; 

To such as keep his covenant, 

And to those that remember his commandments to do them. 

The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens ; 

And his kingdom ruleth over all. 

Bless the Lord, ye his angels, 

That excel in strength, that do his commandments, 
Hearkening unto the voice of his word. 

Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; 

Ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. 

Bless the Lord, all his works 
In all places of his dominion. 

Bless the Lord, 0 my soul. 


PSALM 120 

In my distress I cried unto the Lord, 

And he heard me. 

Deliver my soul, 0 Lord, from lying lips, 

And from a deceitful tongue. 

What shall be given unto thee? 

Or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue? 
Sharp arrows of the mighty, 

With coals of juniper. 

Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, 

That I dwell in the tents of Kedar! 

My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. 
I am for peace ; 

But when I speak, they are for war. 

PSALM 121 

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, 

From whence cometh my help. 

My help cometh from the Lord, 


274 


Which made heaven and earth. 

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved; 

He that keepeth thee will not slumber. 

Behold, he that keepeth Israel 
Shall neither slumber nor sleep. 

The Lord is thy keeper; 

The Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. 

The sun shall not smite thee by day, 

Nor the moon by night. 

The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil ; 

He shall preserve thy soul. 

The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in 
From this time forth, and even for evermore. 


PSALM 122 

I was glad when they said unto me, 

Let us go into the house of the Lord. 

Our feet shall stand within thy gates, 0 Jerusalem. 
Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together ; 
Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, 

Unto the testimony of Israel, 

To give thanks unto the name of the Lord. 

For there are set thrones of judgment, 

The thrones of the house of David. 

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem ; 

They shall prosper that love thee. 

Peace be within thy walls, 

And prosperity within thy palaces. 

For my brethren and companions' sakes, 

I will now say, Peace be within thee. 

Because of the house of the Lord our God, 

I will seek thy good. 


275 


PSALM 123 


Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, 

0 thou that dwellest in the heavens. 

Behold, as the eyes of servants 
Look unto the hand of their masters, 

And as the eyes of a maiden 
Unto the hand of her mistress ; 

So our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, 

Until that he have mercy upon us. 

Have mercy upon us, 0 Lord, have mercy upon us; 
For we are exceedingly filled with contempt. 

Our soul is exceedingly filled 

With the scorning of those that are at ease, 

And with the contempt of the proud. 


PSALM 124 

If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, 

Now may Israel say; 

If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, 

When men rose up against us; 

Then they had swallowed us up quick, 

When their wrath was kindled against us; 

Then the waters had overwhelmed us, 

The stream had gone over our soul ; 

Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. 

Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us as a prey to 
their teeth. 

Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the 
fowlers ; 

The snare is broken, and we are escaped. 

Our help is in the name of the Lord, 

Who made heaven and earth. 


276 


PSALM 125 


They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, 

Which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. 

As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, 

So the Lord is round about his people 
From henceforth even for ever. 

For the rod of the wicked 

Shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous ; 

Lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity. 

Do good, 0 Lord, unto those that be good, 

And to them that are upright in their hearts. 

As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, 

The Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity ; 
But peace shall be upon Israel. 


PSALM 126 

When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, 

We were like them that dream. 

Then was our mouth filled with laughter, 

And our tongue with singing. 

Then said they among the heathen, 

The Lord hath done great things for them. 

The Lord hath done great things for us; 

Whereof we are glad. 

Turn again our captivity, 0 Lord, 

As the streams in the south. 

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 

He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, 
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, 

Bringing his sheaves with him. 


277 


PSALM 127 


Except the Lord build the house, 

They labour in vain that build it; 

Except the Lord keep the city, 

The watchman waketh but in vain. 

It is vain for you to rise up early, 

To sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows ; 

For so he giveth his beloved sleep. 

Lo, children are a heritage of the Lord; 

And the fruit of the womb is his reward. 

As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; 

So are children of the youth. 

Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them ; 
They shall not be ashamed, 

But they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. 


PSALM 128 

Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord ; 

That walketh in his ways. 

For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands ; 

Happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. 

Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine 
house ; 

Thy children like olive plants round about thy table. 

Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed 
That feareth the Lord. 

The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion ; 

And thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem 
All the days of thy life. 

Yea, thou shalt see thy children’s children, 

And peace upon Israel. 


278 


PSALM 129 


Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, 

May Israel now say; 

Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth; 

Yet they have not prevailed against me. 

The plowers plowed upon my back; 

They made long their furrows. 

The Lord is righteous; 

He hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked. 

Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion. 
Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, 

Which withereth afore it groweth up; 

Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand; 

Nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom. 

Neither do they which go by say, 

The blessing of the Lord be upon you; 

We bless you in the name of the Lord. 


PSALM 130 

Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, 0 Lord. 

Lord, hear my voice; 

Let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. 

If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, 

0 Lord, who shall stand? 

But there is forgiveness with thee, 

That thou mayest be feared. 

1 wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, 

And in his word do I hope. 

My soul waiteth for the Lord 

More than they that watch for the morning; 

I say, more than they that watch for the morning. 

Let Israel hope in the Lord; 

279 


For with the Lord there is mercy, 

And with him is plenteous redemption. 

And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities. 

PSALM 131 

Lord, my heart is not haughty, 

Nor mine eyes lofty; 

Neither do I exercise myself in great matters, 

Or in things too high for me. 

Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, 

As a child that is weaned of his mother; 

My soul is even as a weaned child. 

Let Israel hope in the Lord 
From henceforth and for ever. 


PSALM 132 

Lord, remember David, and all his afflictions; 

How he sware unto the Lord, 

And vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob : 

Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, 
Nor go up into my bed; 

I will not give sleep to mine eyes, 

Or slumber to mine eyelids, 

Until I find out a place for the Lord, 

An habitation for the mighty God of Jacob. 

Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah ; 

We found it in the fields of the wood. 

We will go into his tabernacles ; 

We will worship at his footstool. 

Arise, O Lord, into thy rest; 

Thou, and the ark of thy strength. 

Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; 

And let thy saints shout for joy. 


280 


For thy servant David's sake 

Turn not away the face of thine anointed. 

The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David ; 

He will not turn from it: 

Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne. 

If thy children will keep my covenant 
And my testimony that I shall teach them, 

Their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore. 

For the Lord hath chosen Zion; 

He hath desired it for his habitation. 

This is my rest for ever; here will I dwell; 

For I have desired it. 

I will abundantly bless her provision; 

I will satisfy her poor with bread. 

I will also clothe her priests with salvation ; 

And her saints shall shout aloud for joy. 

There will I make the horn of David to bud ; 

I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed. 

His enemies will I clothe with shame; 

But upon himself shall his crown flourish. 


PSALM 133 

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is 
For brethren to dwell together in unity! 

It is like the precious ointment upon the head, 

That ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard ; 

That went down to the skirts of his garments ; 

As the dew of Hermon, 

And as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion ; 
For there the Lord commanded the blessing, 

Even life for evermore. 


281 


PSALM 134 


Behold, bless ye the Lord, 

All ye servants of the Lord, 

Which by night stand in the house of the Lord. 

Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, 

And bless the Lord. 

The Lord that made heaven and earth 
Bless thee out of Zion. 


PSALM 137 

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, 

Yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. 

We hanged our harps upon the willows 
In the midst thereof. 

For there they that carried us away captive 
Required of us a song; 

And they that wasted us 
Required of us mirth, saying, 

Sing us one of the songs of Zion. 

How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land? 
If I forget thee, 0 Jerusalem, 

Let my right hand forget her cunning. 

If I do not remember thee, 

Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; 

If I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. 

Remember, 0 Lord, the children of Edom 
In the day of Jerusalem; 

Who said, Rase it, rase it, 

Even to the foundation thereof. 

0 daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; 
Happy shall he be, 

That rewardeth thee as thou hast served us. 


282 


Happy shall he be. 

That taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones. 
PSALM 139 

0 Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. 

Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, 

Thou understandest my thought afar off. 

Thou compasseth my path and my lying down, 

And art acquainted with all my ways. 

For there is not a word in my tongue, 

But lo, 0 Lord, thou knowest it altogether. 

Thou hast beset me behind and before, 

And laid thine hand upon me. 

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; 

It is high, I cannot attain unto it. 

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? 

Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 

If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there ; 

If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 

If I take the wings of the morning, 

And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea ; 

Even there shall thy hand lead me, 

And thy right hand shall hold me. 

If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; 

Even the night shall be light about me. 

Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee ; 

But the night shineth as the day; 

The darkness and the light are both alike to thee. 

For thou hast possessed my reins ; 

Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. 

1 will praise thee ; 

For I am fearfully and wonderfully made. 

Marvellous are thy works ; 

And that my soul knoweth right well. 


283 


My substance was not hid from thee, 

When I was made in secret, 

And curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 
Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; 

And in thy book all my members were written, 

Which in continuance were fashioned, 

When as yet there was none of them. 

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, 0 God ! 

How great is the sum of them ! 

If I should count them, 

They are more in number than the sand. 

When I awake, I am still with thee. 

Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God. 

Depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. 

For they speak against thee wickedly, 

And thine enemies take thy name in vain. 

Do not I hate them, 0 Lord, that hate thee ? 

And am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? 
I hate them with perfect hatred ; 

I count them mine enemies. 

Search me, 0 God, and know my heart ; 

Try me, and know my thoughts; 

And see if there be any wicked way in me, 

And lead me in the way everlasting. 

PSALM 143 

Hear my prayer, 0 Lord, give ear to my supplications ; 

In thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. 
And enter not into judgment with thy servant; 

For in thy sight shall no man living be justified. 

For the enemy hath persecuted my soul ; 

He hath smitten my life down to the ground ; 

He hath made me to dwell in darkness, 

As those that have been long dead. 


284 


Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; 

My heart within me is desolate. 

I remember the days of old; 

I meditate on all thy works ; 

I muse on the work of thy hands. 

I stretch forth my hands unto thee; 

My soul thirsteth after thee, 

As a thirsty land. 

Hear me speedily, 0 Lord; 

My spirit faileth. 

Hide not thy face from me, 

Lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. 
Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; 
For in thee do I trust. 

Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; 

For I lift up my soul unto thee. 

Deliver me, 0 Lord, from mine enemies ; 

I flee unto thee to hide me. 

Teach me to do thy will ; for thou art my God. 

Thy spirit is good ; 

Lead me into the land of uprightness. 

Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name's sake; 

For thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble. 

And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, 

And destroy all of them that afflict my soul ; 

For I am thy servant. 


PSALM 149 

Praise ye the Lord. 

Sing unto the Lord a new song, 

And his praise in the congregation of saints. 

Let Israel rejoice in him that made him; 


285 


Let the children of Zion be joyful in their king. 

Let them praise his name in the dance ; 

Let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. 

For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people; 

He will beautify the meek with salvation. 

Let the saints be joyful in glory; 

Let them sing aloud upon their beds. 

Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, 

And a two-edged sword in their hand ; 

To execute vengeance upon the heathen, 

And punishments upon the people; 

To bind their kings with chains, 

And their nobles with fetters of iron. 

To execute upon them the judgment written; 

This honour have all his saints. 

Praise ye the Lord. 


PSALM 150 

Praise ye the Lord. 

Praise God in his sanctuary ; 

Praise him in the firmament of his power. 

Praise him for his mighty acts; 

Praise him according to his excellent greatness. 

Praise him with the sound of the trumpet ; 

Praise him with the psaltery and harp. 

Praise him with the timbrel and dance ; 

Praise him with stringed instruments and organs. 

Praise him upon the loud cymbals; 


286 


Praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. 


Let every thing that hath breath 
Praise the Lord. 

Praise ye the Lord. 


THE PROVERBS 


(Chapters I, III, VIII, XV, XXII, and XXXI) 


The Book of Proverbs, like the Book of Ecclesiastes, is a book of 
“wisdom.” If Ecclesiastes may be regarded as a series of essays dealing 
with the broad subject of the meaning of life, of how a man may live 
in order to get the most out of life, Proverbs may be called a collection 
of observations, sometimes disconnected, sometimes grouped into broader 
units of thought, on the conduct of individual life, being mainly instruc- 
tions of men of wisdom as to the details of conduct. Of this book there 
are certain clearly defined sections: 1. Chapter 1, vs. 1-6, General Intro- 
duction; 2. Chapter 1, vs. 7 to Chapter 9, vs. 18, “The Praise of Wisdom; 
3. Chapter 10, vs. 1 to Chapter 22, vs. 16, “Proverbs of Solomon”; 4. 
Chapter 22, vs. 17 to Chapter 24, vs, 22, “Sayings of the Wise”; 5. 
Chapter 24, vs. 23-34, “Additional Sayings of the Wise”; 6. Chapter 25 
to Chapter 29, “Proverbs of Solomon”; 7, Chapter 30, “Words of Agur”; 
8. Chapter 31, vs. 1-9, “Words of King Lemuel”; 9. Chapter 31, vs. 
10^31, “Praise of the Model Housewife.” As to the author or authors 
and the time of composition of these “wise” sayings, scholars report 
conflicting opinions. That the collection in its present form was made 
after the Exile, seems to be the prevailing view, although it is admitted 
that the composition of individual parts may go back to the time of the 
Monarchy. 

1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel. 

To know wisdom and instruction ; 

To perceive the words of understanding ; 

To receive the instruction of wisdom, 

Justice, and judgment, and equity; 

To give subtilty to the simple, 


288 


* 


To the young man knowledge and discretion. 

A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; 

And a man of understanding shall attain unto wise 
counsels ; 

To understand a proverb, and the interpretation ; 

The words of the wise, and their dark sayings. 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; 

But fools despise wisdom and instruction. 

My son, hear the instruction of thy father, 

And forsake not the law of thy mother ; 

For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, 
And chains about thy neck. 

My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. 

If they say, Come with us, 

Let us lay wait for blood, 

Let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause; 

Let us swallow them up alive as the grave ; 

And whole, as those that go down into the pit; 

We shall find all precious substance, 

We shall fill our houses with spoil; 

Cast in thy lot among us; 

Let us all have one purse : 

My son, walk not thou in the way with them; 

Refrain thy foot from their path ; 

For their feet run to evil, 

* And make haste to shed blood. 

Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. 
And they lay wait for their own blood; 

They lurk privily for their own lives. 

So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain ; 
Which taketh away the life of the owners thereof. 

Wisdom crieth without; 

She uttereth her voice in the streets ; 

She crieth in the chief place of concourse, 

In the openings of the gates ; 


289 


In the city she uttereth her words, saying, 

How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? 

And the scorners delight in their scorning, 

And fools hate knowledge? 

Turn you at my reproof. 

Behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, 

I will make known my words unto you. 

Because I have called, and ye refused ; 

I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 
But ye have set at nought all my counsel, 

And would none of my reproof ; 

I also will laugh at your calamity; 

I will mock when your fear cometh; 

When your fear cometh as desolation, 

And your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; 

When distress and anguish cometh upon you. 

Then shall they call upon me, 

But I will not answer ; 

They shall seek me early, 

But they shall not find me. 

For that they hated knowledge, 

And did not choose the fear of the Lord, 

They would none of my counsel ; 

They despised all my reproof. 

Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way. 
And be filled with their own devices. 

For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, 
And the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 

But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, 

And shall be quiet from fear of evil. 

* * * * * 

3 My son, forget not my law, 

But let thine heart keep my commandments ; 

-For length of days, and long life, and peace, 


290 


Shall they add to thee. 

Let not mercy and truth forsake thee; 

Bind them about thy neck; 

Write them upon the table of thine heart; 

So shalt thou find favor and good understanding 
In the sight of God and man. 

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; 

And lean not unto thine own understanding. 

In all thy ways acknowledge him, 

And he shall direct thy paths. 

Be not wise in thine own eyes. 

Fear the Lord, and depart from evil. 

It shall be health to thy navel, 

And marrow to thy bones. 

Honour the Lord with thy substance, 

And with the firstf ruits of all thine increase ; 

So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, 

And thy presses shall burst out with new wine. 

My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, 
Neither be weary of his correction; 

For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth, 

Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. 

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, 

And the man that getteth understanding. 

For the merchandise of it is better 
Than the merchandise of silver, 

And the gain thereof than fine gold. 

She is more precious than rubies; 

And all the things thou canst desire 
Are not to be compared unto her. 

Length of days is in her right hand ; 

And in her left hand riches and honour. 


291 


Her ways are ways of pleasantness, 

And all her paths are peace. 

She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her ; 
And happy is every one that retaineth her. 

The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth ; 

By understanding hath he established the heavens. 

By his knowledge the depths are broken up, 

And the clouds drop down the dew. 

My son, let not them depart from thine eyes ; 

Keep sound wisdom and discretion; 

So shall they be life unto thy soul, 

And grace to thy neck. 

Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, 

And thy foot shall not stumble. 

When thou best down, thou shalt not be afraid ; 

Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. 
Be not afraid of sudden fear, 

Neither of the desolation of the wicked, 

When it cometh. 

For the Lord shall be thy confidence, 

And shall keep thy foot from being taken. 

Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, 

When it is in the power of thine hand to do it. 

Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, 

And to morrow I will give; 

When thou hast it by thee. 

Devise not evil against thy neighbour, 

Seeing he dwelleth securely by thee. 

Strive not with a man without cause, 

If he have done thee no harm. 

Envy thou not the oppressor, 

And choose none of his ways. 


292 


For the froward is abomination to the Lord; 

But his secret is with the righteous. 

The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked ; 
But he blesseth the habitation of the just. 

Surely he scorneth the scorners; 

But he giveth grace unto the lowly. 

The wise shall inherit glory; 

But shame shall be the promotion of fools. 

* * * * * 

8 Doth not wisdom cry? 

And understanding put forth her voice? 

She standeth in the top of high places, 

By the way in the places of the paths. 

She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, 

At the coming in at the doors. 

Unto you, O men, I call; 

And my voice is to the sons of man. 

0 ye simple, understand wisdom; 

And ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. 
Hear, for I will speak of excellent things ; 

And the opening of my lips shall be right things. 
For my mouth shall speak truth ; 

And wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 

All the words of my mouth are in righteousness ; 
There is nothing froward or perverse in them. 
They are all plain to him that understandeth, 

And right to them that find knowledge. 

Receive my instruction, and not silver; 

And knowledge rather than choice gold. 

For wisdom is better than rubies, 

And all the things that may be desired 
Are not to be compared to it. 


293 


I wisdom dwell with prudence, 

And find out knowledge of witty inventions. 

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil ; 

Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, 

And the froward mouth, do I hate. 

Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; 

I am understanding; 

I have strength. 

By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. 

By me princes rule, and nobles, 

Even all the judges of the earth. 

I love them that love me; 

And those that seek me early shall find me. 

Riches and honour are with me; 

Yea, durable riches and righteousness. 

My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold ; 

And my revenue than choice silver. 

I lead in the way of righteousness, 

In the midst of the paths of judgment; 

That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance ; 
And I will fill their treasures. 

The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, 

Before his works of old. 

I was set up from everlasting, 

From the beginning, or ever the earth was. 

When there were no depths, I was brought forth; 

When there were no fountains abounding with water. 
Before the mountains were settled, 

Before the hills was I brought forth; 

While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, 
Nor the highest part of the dust of the world. 


294 


When he prepared the heavens, I was there; 

When he set a compass upon the face of the depth; 
When he established the clouds above; 

When he strengthened the fountains of the deep ; 

When he gave to the sea his decree, 

That the waters should not pass his commandment ; 
When he appointed the foundations of the earth: 

Then I was by him, as one brought up with him ; 

And I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; 
Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; 

And my delights were with the sons of men. 

Now therefore hearken unto me, 0 ye children; 

For blessed are they that keep my ways. 

Hear instruction, and be wise, 

And refuse it not. 

Blessed is the man that heareth me, 

Watching daily at my gates, 

Waiting at the posts of my doors. 

For whoso findeth me findeth life, 

And shall obtain favour of the Lord. 

But he that sinneth against me 
Wrongeth his own soul; 

All they that hate me love death. 

* * * * * 

15 A soft answer turneth away wrath; 

But grievous words stir up anger. 

The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright; 

But the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. 

The eyes of the Lord are in every place, 

Beholding the evil and the good. 

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life; 

But perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. 

295 


A fool despiseth his father's instruction ; 

But he that regardeth reproof is prudent. 

In the house of the righteous is much treasure; 

But in the revenues of the wicked is trouble. 

The lips of the wise disperse knowledge ; 

But the heart of the foolish doeth not so. 

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord ; 
But the prayer of the upright is his delight. 

The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord ; 
But he loveth him that followeth after righteousness. 

Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way; 
And he that hateth reproof shall die. 

Hell and destruction are before the Lord ; 

How much more then the hearts of the children of men? 

A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him; 

Neither will he go unto the wise. 

A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance; 

But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. 

The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh 
knowledge ; 

But the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness. 

All the days of the afflicted are evil; 

But he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast. 

Better is little with the fear of the Lord 
Than great treasure and trouble therewith. 

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, 

Than a stalled ox and hatred therewith. 

A wrathful man stirreth up strife; 

But he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife. 


296 


The way of the slothful man is as a hedge of thorns ; 

But the way of the righteous is made plain. 

A wise son maketh a glad father; 

But a foolish man despiseth his mother. 

Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom; 

But a man of understanding walketh uprightly. 

Without counsel purposes are disappointed ; 

But in the multitude of counsellors they are established. 

A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth; 

And a word spoken in due season, how good is it ! 

The way of life is above to the wise, 

That he may depart from hell beneath. 

The Lord will destroy the house of the proud; 

But he will establish the border of the widow. 

The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the 
Lord; 

But the words of the pure are pleasant words. 

He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; 

But he that hateth gifts shall live. 

The heart of the righteous studieth to answer ; 

But the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things. 

The Lord is far from the wicked; 

But he heareth the prayer of the righteous. 

The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart; 

And a good report maketh the bones fat. 

The ear that heareth the reproof of life 
Abideth among the wise. 

He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul; 
But he that heareth reproof getteth understanding. 


297 


The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; 
And before honour is humility. 

***** 

22 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, 
And loving favour rather than silver and gold. 

The rich and poor meet together; 

The Lord is the maker of them all. 

A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself ; 
But the simple pass on, and are punished. 

By humility and the fear of the Lord 
Are riches, and honour, and life. 

Thorns and snares are in the way of the f roward ; 

He that doth keep his soul shall be far from them. 

Train up a child in the way he should go; 

And when he is old, he will not depart from it. 

The rich ruleth over the poor, 

And the borrower is servant to the lender. 

He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity; 

And the rod of his anger shall fail. 

He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; 

For he giveth of his bread to the poor. 

Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; 

Yea, strife and reproach shall cease. 

He that loveth pureness of heart, 

For the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend. 

The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge, 

And he overthroweth the words of the transgressor. 

The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, 

I shall be slain in the streets. 


298 


The mouth of strange women is a deep pit; 

He that is abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein. 

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; 

But the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. 

He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, 

And he that giveth to the rich, 

Shall surely come to want. 

Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, 
And apply thine heart unto my knowledge. 

For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee ; 
They shall withal be fitted in thy lips. 

That thy trust may be in the Lord, 

I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. 

Have not I written to thee excellent things 
In counsels and knowledge, 

That I might make thee know 
The certainty of the words of truth; 

That thou mightest answer the words of truth 
To them that send unto thee? 

Rob not the poor, because he is poor ; 

Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate; 

For the Lord will plead their cause, 

And spoil the soul of those that spoiled them. 

Make no friendship with an angry man; 

And with a furious man thou shalt not go; 

Lest thou learn his ways, 

And get a snare to thy soul. 

Be not thou one of them that strike hands, 

Or of them that are sureties for debts. 

If thou hast nothing to pay, 

Why should he take away thy bed from under thee? 


299 


A Virtuous 
Woman 


Remove not the ancient landmark, 

Which thy fathers have set. 

Seest thou a man diligent in his business? 

He shall stand before kings; 

He shall not stand before mean men. 

* * * * * 

31 Who can find a virtuous woman? 

For her price is far above rubies. 

The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, 

So that he shall have no need of spoil. 

She will do him good and not evil 
All the days of her life. 

She seeketh wool, and flax, 

And worketh willingly with her hands. 

She is like the merchants' ships ; 

She bringeth her food from afar. 

She riseth also while it is yet night, 

And giveth meat to her household, 

And a portion to her maidens. 

She considereth a field, and buyeth it; 

With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. 

She girdeth her loins with strength, 

And strengtheneth her arms. 

She perceiveth that her merchandise is good ; 

Her candle goeth not out by night. 

She layeth her hands to the spindle, 

And her hands hold the distaff. 

She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; 

Yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. 

She is not afraid of the snow for her household ; 
For all her household are clothed with scarlet. 


300 


She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; 

Her clothing is silk and purple. 

Her husband is known in the gates, 

When he sitteth among the elders of the land. 

She maketh fine linen, and selleth it ; 

And delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 

Strength and honour are her clothing; 

And she shall rejoice in time to come. 

She openeth her mouth with wisdom ; 

And in her tongue is the law of kindness. 

She looketh well to the ways of her household, 

And eateth not the bread of idleness. 

Her children arise up, and call her blessed; 

Her husband also, and he praiseth her. 

Many daughters have done virtuously, 

But thou excellest them all. 

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain; 

But a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. 

Give her of the fruit of her hands ; 

And let her own works praise her in the gates. 


ECCLESIASTES 

(Chapter I and Chapter IX — Chapter XII, omitting vs. 22) 

The place of Ecclesiastes in the Bible was won only after much 
dispute. Although the book was accepted as canonical by the Council of 
Jamnia, 90 A. D., its orthodoxy is still questioned. Its teachings, under 
the most liberal interpretation, are not in accord with the fundamental 
doctrines of Hebrew belief. 

The book consists of meditations on life placed in the mouth of the 
wise king Solomon. The conclusions which he has reached are expressed 
at the very beginning of the book: “all is vanity. What profit hath a 
man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? The thing that 
hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which 
shall be; and there is no new thing under the sun.” 

A thorough study which has been made of the book by Professor 
Jastrow 1 points to an original document, unorthodox and unreligious, the 
entire spirit of which was altered in an attempt to direct its thought 
into an orthodox channel. Ecclesiastes is the result of manipulation at 
various hands. Three kinds of commentators were at work. One series 
of additions illustrates the traditional Solomon as the pious and God- 
fearing king; another shows Solomon as the wise king; a third consists 
of comments and of short and long additions intended to take off the 
sharp edge of the author’s thought. 

The thought of the original book, according to Jastrow, was similar 
to that of the Persian poet Omar Khayyam; the main teaching of the 
book as we now have it may be said to be a denial of the popular doctrine 
of retribution, which had already been so vigorously attached in Job. 
Whatever may have been the history of its composition, the teachings 
of the book in its present form look forward to a late date in the history 
of Jewish religious worship and political conditions. 


1 A Gentle Cynic. Philadelphia, 1919 


302 


1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in 
Jerusalem. 

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, 

Vanity of vanities; all is vanity. 

What profit hath a man of all his labor 
Which he taketh under the sun? 

One generation passeth away, and another generation 
cometh ; 

But the earth abideth forever. 

The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, 

And hasteth to his place where he arose. 

The wind goeth toward the south, 

And turneth about unto the north; 

It whirleth about continually, 

And the wind returneth again according to his circuits. 

All the rivers run into the sea; 

Yet the sea is not full; 

Unto the place from whence the rivers come, 

Thither they return again. 

All things are full of labor; 

Man cannot utter it. 

The eye is not satisfied with seeing, 

Nor the ear filled with hearing. 

The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be ; 

And that which is done is that which shall be done ; 

And there is no new thing under the sun. 

Is there any thing whereof it may be said, 

See, this is new? 

It hath been already of old time, 

Which was before us. 


303 


There is no remembrance of former things ; 

Neither shall there be any remembrance of things that 
are to come 

With those that shall come after. 

I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I 
gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning 
all things that are done under heaven. This sore travail hath 
God given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith. 

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; 
and behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 

That which is crooked cannot be made straight; 

And that which is wanting cannot be numbered. 

I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come 
to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they 
that have been before me in Jerusalem. Yea, my heart had 
great experience of wisdom and knowledge. And I gave my 
heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I 
perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. 

For in much wisdom is much grief; 

And he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. 

* * * * * 

9 For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all 
this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are 
in the hand of God. No man knoweth either love or hatred 
by all that is before them. All things come alike to all. There 
is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked ; to the good 
and to the clean, and to the unclean ; to him that sacrificeth, 
and to him that sacrificeth not; as is the good, so is the sin- 
ner ; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath. This 
is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that 
there is one event unto all. Yea, also the heart of the sons 
of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they 
live, and after that they go to the dead. 

For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope; 


304 


for a living dog is better than a dead lion. For the living 
know that they shall die, but the dead know not any thing, 
neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of 
them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their 
envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion 
for ever in any thing that is done under the sun. 

Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine 
with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. 

Let thy garments be always white ; and let thy head lack 
no ointment. 

Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days 
of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the 
sun, all the days of thy vanity ; for that is thy portion in this 
life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. 

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might ; 
for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, 
in the grave, whither thou goest. 

I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not 
to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread 
to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet 
favour to men of skill ; but time and chance happeneth to them 
all. For man also knoweth not his time. As the fishes that 
are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in 
the snare ; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when 
it falleth suddenly upon them. 

This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed 
great unto me. There was a little city, and few men within 
it. And there came a great king against it, and besieged it, 
and built great bulwarks against it. Now there was found 
in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the 
city. Yet no man remembered that same poor man. Then 
said I, 

Wisdom is better than strength; 

Nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised. 

And his words are not heard. 


305 


The words of wise men are heard in quiet 
More than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. 
Wisdom is better than weapons of war; 

But one sinner destroyeth much good. 

* * * * * 

12 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, 
While the evil days come not, 

Nor the years draw nigh, 

When thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them. 

While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, 

Be not darkened, 

Nor the clouds return after the rain ; 

In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, 
And the strong men shall bow themselves, 

And the grinders cease because they are few, 

And those that look out of the windows be darkened, 
And the doors shall be shut in the streets, 

When the sound of the grinding is low, 

And he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, 

And all the daughters of music shall be brought low; 
Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, 
And fears shall be in the way, 

And the almond tree shall flourish, 

And the grasshopper shall be a burden, 

And desire shall fail; 

Because man goeth to his long home, 

And the mourners go about the streets ; 

Or ever the silver cord be loosed, 

Or the golden bowl be broken, 

Or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, 

Or the wheel broken at the cistern. 

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was ; 

And the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. 

Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity. 

306 


THE SONG OF SOLOMON 

( Chapter 1 and Chapter II) 

The Song of Solomon has been variously interpreted: (1) as an 
Allegory, either of Jehovah's love for Israel or of Christ’s love for his 
Church; (2) as a Drama, either with Solomon and a Shulamite maiden 
or with Solomon, a Shulamite maiden, and her shepherd lover as the 
main characters; (3) as a Collection of Songs used at marriage festivals 
during the so-called “king’s week.” The last view seems the most prob- 
able. The author is unknown. The time of writing is likewise uncertain, 
a late date, probably about B. C. 300, being generally accepted. 

1 The song of songs, which is Solomon's. 

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth ; 

For thy love is better than wine. 

Because of the savour of thy good ointments 

Thy name is as ointment poured forth; 

Therefore do the virgins love thee. 

Draw me, we will run after thee. 

The king hath brought me into his chambers. 

We will be glad and rejoice in thee, 

We will remember thy love more than wine; 

The upright love thee. 

I am black, but comely, 0 ye daughters of Jerusalem, 

As the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. 

Look not upon me, because I am black, 

Because the sun hath looked upon me. 

My mother's children were angry with me; 

They made me the keeper of the vineyards ; 

But mine own vineyard have I not kept. 


307 


Tell me, 0 thou whom my soul lovest, 

Where thou feedest, 

Where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon ; 

For why should I be as one that turneth aside 
By the flocks of thy companions? 

If thou know not, 0 thou fairest among women, 

Go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, 

And feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents. 

I have compared thee, 0 my love, 

To a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots. 

Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, 

Thy neck with chains of gold. 

We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver. 

While the king sitteth at his table, 

My spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof. 

A bundle of myrrh is my wellbeloved unto me. 

He shall lie all night betwixt my breasts. 

My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire 
In the vineyards of En-gedi. 

Behold, thou art fair, my love; 

Behold, thou art fair; 

Thou hast doves' eyes. 

Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant. 

Also our bed is green. 

The beams of our house are cedar, 

And our rafters of fir. 

2 I am the rose of Sharon, 

And the lily of the valleys. 

As the lily among thorns, 

So is my love among the daughters. 

As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, 

So is my beloved among the sons. 


308 


I sat down under his shadow with great delight, 

And his fruit was sweet to my taste. 

He brought me to the banqueting house, 

And his banner over me was love. 

Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples ; 

For I am sick of love. 

His left hand is under my head, 

And his right hand doth embrace me. 

I charge you, 0 ye daughters of Jerusalem, 

By the roes, and by the hinds of the field, 

That ye stir not up, nor awake my love, 

Till he please. 

The voice of my beloved, behold, he cometh, 

Leaping upon the mountains, 

Skipping upon the hills. 

My beloved is like a roe or a young hart. 

Behold, he standeth behind our wall, 

He looketh forth at the windows, 

Shewing himself through the lattice. 

My beloved spake, and said unto me, 

Rise up, my love, my fair one. 

And come away. 

For, lo, the winter is past, 

The rain is over and gone; 

The flowers appear on the earth; 

The time of the singing of birds is come, 

And the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; 

The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, 

And the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. 
Arise, my love, my fair one, 

And come away. 

0 my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, 

In the secret places of the stairs, 

Let me see thy countenance, 

Let me hear thy voice; 


309 


For sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely. 
Take us the foxes, 

The little foxes, that spoil the vines; 

For our vines have tender grapes. 

My beloved is mine, and I am his. 

He feedeth among the lilies. 

Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, 

Turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart 
Upon the mountains of Bether. 


THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH 


The Book of Isaiah is a collection of prophetic writings, extending 
over about five centuries of Hebrew history and representing the work 
not only of the great prophet whose name is attached to the book, but 
also of contemporary and later prophets. 

Two main divisions of “Isaiah” are clearly distinguished: (1) 
Chapters 1-39 and (2) Chapters 40-66. The latter section likewise falls 
into two parts, the “Second Isaiah” or the “Deutero-Isaiah” proper 
(Chapters 40-55), and the “Third Isaiah” or “Trito-Isaiah” (Chapters 
56-66). Approximate dates of composition for these three divisions are: 
(1) Chapters 1-39, Eighth Century; (2) Chapters 40^55, Sixth Century; 
and (3) Chapters 56-66, Fifth Century. The difficult problems of the 
origin and structure of “Isaiah” have called forth all the resources of 
Biblical scholarship. The following brief outline indicates the generally 
accepted opinion as to the contents of the various parts : 

Chapters 1-11.9 First Collection of Isaiah’s Prophecies, relating to 
the Kingdoms of Judah and Israel 

Chapters 11.9-14.23 First Group of Later Additions 

Chapters 14.24-23 Oracles Concerning the Nations 

Chapters 24-27 Second Group of Later Additions 

Chapters 28-32 A Group of Discourses Dealing with the Relation 
of Judah to Assyria 

Chapters 33-35 Third Group of Later Additions 

Chapters 36-39 A Historical Appendix, taken mainly from 2 
Kings, 18.13 and 17 to 20.19 

Chapters 40-55 “Deutero-Isaiah.” The Advent of Cyrus and the 
Certainty of Release. Israel’s Restoration and Ideal 

Chapters 56-66 “Trito-Isaiah.” A Collection of Prophecies Writ- 
ten in Palestine after the Exile 


311 


The Rebellion of Judah 

( Chapter I) 

The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw con- 
cerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, 
Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. 

Hear, 0 heavens, and give ear, 0 earth; 

For the Lord hath spoken : 

I have nourished and brought up children, 

And they have rebelled against me. 

The ox knoweth his owner, 

And the ass his master’s crib ; 

But Israel doth not know, 

My people doth not consider. 

Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, 

A seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters ! 

They have forsaken the Lord, 

They have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, 
They are gone away backward. 

Why should ye be stricken any more? 

Ye will revolt more and more. 

The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. 

From the sole of the foot even unto the head 
There is no soundness in it, 

But wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores; 

They have not been closed, neither bound up, 

Neither mollified with ointment. 

Your country is desolate, 

Your cities are burned with fire; 

Your land, strangers devour it in your presence, 

And it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. 

And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vine- 
yard, 


312 


As a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, 

As a besieged city. 

Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small 
remnant, 

We should have been as Sodom, 

And we should have been like unto Gomorrah. 

Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom ; 

Give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. 

To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto 
me? 

Saith the Lord. 

I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, 

And the fat of fed beasts ; 

And I delight not in the blood of bullocks, 

Or of lambs, or of he goats. 

When ye come to appear before me, 

Who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts ? 
Bring no more vain oblations; 

Incense is an abomination unto me; 

The new moons and sabbaths, 

The calling of assemblies, I cannot away with ; 

It is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. 

Your new moons and your appointed feasts 
My soul hateth ; 

They are a trouble unto me; 

I am weary to bear them. 

And when you spread forth your hands, 

I will hide mine eyes from you; 

Yea, when ye make many prayers, 

I will not hear; 

Your hands are full of blood. 

Wash you, make you clean; 

Put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes ; 
Cease to do evil ; learn to do well ; 


313 


Seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, 

Judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. 

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord. 
Though your sins be as scarlet, 

They shall be as white as snow ; 

Though they be red like crimson, 

They shall be as wool. 

If ye be willing and obedient, 

Ye shall eat the good of the land; 

But if ye refuse and rebel, 

Ye shall be devoured with the sword; 

For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. 

How is the faithful city become a harlot ! 

It was full of judgment; 

Righteousness lodged in it; 

But now murderers. 

Thy silver is become dross, 

Thy wine mixed with water. 

Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves. 
Every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards. 
They judge not the fatherless, 

Neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them. 

Therefore saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts, the mighty 
one of Israel, 

Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, 

And avenge me of mine enemies. 

And I will turn my hand upon thee, 

And purely purge away thy dross, 

And take away all thy tin. 

And I will restore thy judges as at the first, 

And thy counsellors as at the beginning. 

Afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, 
The faithful city. 

Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, 


314 


And her converts with righteousness. 

And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sin- 
ners shall be together, 

And they that forsake the Lord shall be consumed. 

For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have 
desired, 

And ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have 
chosen. 

For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, 

And as a garden that hath no water. 

And the strong shall be as tow, 

And the maker of it as a spark, 

And they shall both burn together, 

And none shall quench them. 


The Coming of the Lord to Judah 

(Chapter II, omitting vs. 22) 

The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning 
Judah and Jerusalem. 

And it shall come to pass in the last days, 

That the mountain of the Lord's house 

Shall be established in the top of the mountains, 

And shall be exalted above the hills ; 

And all nations shall flow unto it. 

And many people shall go and say, 

Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, 
To the house of the God of Jacob; 

And he will teach us of his ways, 

And we will walk in his paths. 

For out of Zion shall go forth the law, 

And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 

And he shall judge among the nations, 

And shall rebuke many people. 


315 


And they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, 

And their spears into pruninghooks ; 

Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, 

Neither shall they learn war any more. 

0 house of Jacob, 

Come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord. 

Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of 
Jacob, 

Because they be replenished from the east, 

And are soothsayers like the Philistines, 

And they please themselves in the children of strangers. 

Their land also is full of silver and gold, 

Neither is there any end of their treasures; 

Their land is also full of horses, 

Neither is there any end of their chariots ; 

Their land also is full of idols ; 

They worship the work of their own hands, 

That which their own fingers have made. 

And the mean man boweth down, 

And the great man humbleth himself. 

Therefore forgive them not. 

Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, 

For fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty. 

The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, 

And the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, 

And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. 

For the day of the Lord of hosts 

Shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, 

And upon every one that is lifted up; 

And he shall be brought low; 

And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, 

That are high and lifted up, 

And upon all the oaks of Bashan, 

And upon all the high mountains, 


316 


And upon all the hills that are lifted up, 

And upon every high tower, 

And upon every fenced wall, 

And upon all the ships of Tarshish, 

And upon all pleasant pictures. 

And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, 

And the haughtiness of men shall be made low ; 

And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. 

And the idols he shall utterly abolish. 

And they shall go into the holes of the rocks. 

And into the caves of the earth, 

For fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, 
When he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. 

In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, 

And his idols of gold, 

Which they made each one for himself to worship, 
To the moles and to the bats; 

To go into the clefts of the rocks, 

And into the tops of the ragged rocks, 

For fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, 
When he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. 


The Call of the Prophet 

(Chapter VI, vs. 1-12) 

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord 
sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled 
the temple. Above it stood the seraphim. Each one had six 
wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he 
covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 

And one cried unto another, and said, 

Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts ; 

The whole earth is full of his glory. 


317 


And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that 
cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 

Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am 
a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people 
of unclean lips. For mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord 
of hosts. 

Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, having a live 
coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off 
the altar. And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this 
hath touched thy lips ; and thine iniquity is taken away, and 
thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, 
Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, 
Here am I; send me. And he said, Go, and tell this people, 
Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but 
perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make 
their ears heavy, and shut their eyes ; lest they see with their 
eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their 
heart, and convert, and be healed. Then said I, Lord, how 
long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without 
inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be 
utterly desolate, and the Lord have removed men far away, 
and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land. 


The Destruction of the Enemies of the Church 

(Chapter XXXIV) 

Come near, ye nations, to hear ; and hearken, ye people ; 
Let the earth hear, and all that is therein; 

The world, and all things that come forth of it. 

For the indignation of the Lord is upon all nations, 
And his fury upon all their armies. 

He hath utterly destroyed them, 

He hath delivered them to the slaughter. 

Their slain also shall be cast out, 


318 


And their stink shall come up out of their carcases, 
And the mountains shall be melted with their blood. 

And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, 

And the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll ; 

And all their host shall fall down, 

As the leaf falleth off from the vine, 

And as a falling fig from the fig tree. 

For my sword shall be bathed in heaven; 

Behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, 

And upon the people of my curse, to judgment. 

The sword of the Lord is filled with blood, 

It is made fat with fatness, 

And with the blood of lambs and goats, 

With the fat of the kidneys of rams; 

For the Lord hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, 

And a great slaughter in the land of Idumea. 

And the unicorns shall come down with them, 

And the bullocks with the bulls ; 

And their land shall be soaked with blood, 

And their dust made fat with fatness. 

For it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance, 

And the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion. 

And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, 

And the dust thereof into brimstone, 

And the land thereof shall become burning pitch. 

It shall not be quenched night nor day; 

The smoke thereof shall go up for ever; 

From generation to generation it shall lie waste; 

None shall pass through it for ever and ever. 

But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; 

The owl also and the raven shall dwell in it ; 

And he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, 
And the stones of emptiness. 


319 


They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, 

But none shall be there, 

And all her princes shall be nothing. 

And thorns shall come up in her palaces, 

Nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof; 

And it shall be a habitation of dragons, 

And a court for owls. 

The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet 
With the wild beasts of the island, 

And the satyr shall cry to his fellow; 

The screech owl also shall rest there, 

And find for herself a place of rest. 

There shall the great owl make her nest, 

And lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow; 
There shall the vultures also be gathered, 

Every one with her mate. 

Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read. 

No one of these shall fail, 

None shall want her mate; 

For my mouth it hath commanded, 

And his spirit it hath gathered them. 

And he hath cast the lot for them, 

And his hand hath divided it unto them by line. 

They shall possess it for ever, 

From generation to generation shall they dwell therein. 


The Flourishing of the Kingdom of the Lord 

(Chapter XXXV) 

The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for 
them; 

And the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. 

It shall blossom abundantly, 

320 


And rejoice even with joy and singing; 

The glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, 

The excellency of Carmel and Sharon, 

They shall see the glory of the Lord, 

And the excellency of our God. 

Strengthen ye the weak hands, 

And confirm the feeble knees. 

Say to them that are of a fearful heart, 

Be strong, fear not; 

Behold, your God will come with vengeance, 

Even God with a recompence; 

He will come and save you. 

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, 

And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 

Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, 

And the tongue of the dumb sing; 

For in the wilderness shall waters break out, 

And streams in the desert. 

And the parched ground shall become a pool, 

And the thirsty land springs of water; 

In the habitation of dragons, where each lay, 

Shall be grass with reeds and rushes. 

And a highway shall be there, and a way, 

And it shall be called the way of holiness ; 

The unclean shall not pass over it; 

But it shall be for those; 

The wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. 

No lion shall be there, 

Nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, 

It shall not be found there; 

But the redeemed shall walk there. 

And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, 


321 


And come to Zion with songs 

And everlasting joy upon their heads. 

They shall obtain joy and gladness, 

And sorrow and sighing shall flee away. 


The Glory and the Power of the Lord 

(Chapter XL) 

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. 

Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, 
That her warfare is accomplished, 

That her iniquity is pardoned; 

For she hath received of the Lord's hand 
Double for all her sins. 

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness : 

Prepare ye the way of the Lord, 

Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 

Every valley shall be exalted, 

And every mountain and hill shall be made low ; 

And the crooked shall be made straight, 

And the rough places plain. 

And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, 

And all flesh shall see it together; 

For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. 

The voice said, Cry. 

And he said, What shall I cry? 

All flesh is grass, 

And all the goodliness thereof 
Is as the flower of the field. 

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; 

Because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it; 
Surely the people is grass. 


322 


The grass withereth, the flower f adeth ; 

But the word of our God shall stand for ever. 

0 Zion, that bringest good tidings, 

Get thee up into the high mountain ; 

0 Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, 

Lift up thy voice with strength ; 

Lift it up, be not afraid. 

Say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! 

Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, 

And his arm shall rule for him; 

Behold, his reward is with him, 

And his work before him. 

He shall feed his flock like a shepherd ; 

He shall gather the lambs with his arm, 

And carry them in his bosom, 

And shall gently lead those that are with young. 

Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, 
And meted out heaven with the span, 

And comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, 
And weighed the mountains in scales, 

And the hills in a balance? 

Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, 

Or being his counsellor hath taught him ? 

With whom took he counsel, 

And who instructed him, 

And taught him in the path of judgment, 

And taught him knowledge, 

And shewed to him the way of understanding? 

Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, 

And are counted as the small dust of the balance. 
Behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. 

And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, 

Nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering. 
All nations before him are as nothing; 


323 


And they are counted to him less than nothing, and 
vanity. 

To whom then will ye liken God? 

Or what likeness will ye compare unto him? 

The workman melteth a graven image, 

And the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, 

And casteth silver chains. 

He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation 
Chooseth a tree that will not rot; 

He seeketh unto him a cunning workman 
To prepare a graven image, 

That shall not be moved. 

Have ye not known ? Have ye not heard ? 

Hath it not been told you from the beginning? 

Have ye not understood from the foundations of the 
earth ? 

It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, 

And the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; 

That stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, 

And spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in ; 

That bringeth the princes to nothing; 

He maketh the judges of the earth as vanity. 

Yea, they shall not be planted; 

Yea, they shall not be sown ; 

Yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth; 

And he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, 
And the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble. 

To whom then will ye liken me, 

Or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. 

Lift up your eyes on high, 

And behold who hath created these things, 

That bringeth out their host by number. 

He calleth them all by names 


324 


By the greatness of his might, 

For that he is strong in power; 

Not one faileth. 

Why sayest thou, 0 Jacob, and speakest, 0 Israel, 

My way is hid from the Lord, 

And my judgment is passed over from my God? 

Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard? 

That the everlasting God, the Lord, 

The Creator of the ends of the earth, 

Fainteth not, neither is weary? 

There is no searching of his understanding. 

He giveth power to the faint; 

And to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, 

And the young men shall utterly fall ; 

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their 
strength ; 

They shall mount up with wings as eagles ; 

They shall run, and not be weary; 

And they shall walk and not faint. 


The Redemption of Jerusalem 

(Chapter LII and Chapter LIII) 

52 Awake, awake; put on thy strength, 0 Zion; 

Put on thy beautiful garments, 0 Jerusalem, the holy 
city; 

For henceforth there shall no more come into thee 
The uncircumcised and the unclean. 

Shake thyself from the dust; 

Arise, and sit down, 0 Jerusalem. 

Loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, 

0 captive daughter of Zion. 


325 


For thus saith the Lord, 

Ye have sold yourselves for nought ; 

And ye shall be redeemed without money. 

For thus saith the Lord God, 

My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn 
there ; 

And the Assyrian oppressed them without cause. 

Now therefore, what have I here, saith the Lord, 

That my people is taken away for nought? 

They that rule over them make them to howl, saith the 
Lord ; 

And my name continually every day is blasphemed. 

Therefore my people shall know my name ; 

Therefore they shall know in that day 
That I am he that doth speak ; 

Behold, it is I. 

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him 
That bringeth good tidings, 

That publisheth peace; 

That bringeth good tidings of good, 

That publisheth salvation; 

That saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! 

Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; 

With the voice together shall they sing. 

For they shall see eye to eye, 

When the Lord shall bring again Zion. 

Break forth into joy, sing together, 

Ye waste places of Jerusalem; 

For the Lord hath comforted his people, 

He hath redeemed Jerusalem. 

The Lord hath made bare his holy arm 
In the eyes of all the nations; 


326 


And all the ends of the earth 
Shall see the salvation of our God. 

Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, 

Touch no unclean thing; 

Go ye out of the midst of her ; 

Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord. 

For ye shall not go out with haste, 

Nor go by flight; 

For the Lord will go before you; 

And the God of Israel will be your rereward. 

Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, 

He shall be exalted and extolled, 

And be very high. 

As many were astonied at thee; 

His visage was so marred more than any man, 

And his form more than the sons of men; 

So shall he sprinkle many nations; 

The kings shall shut their mouths at him; 

For that which had not been told them shall they see; 
And that which they had not heard shall they consider. 

53 Who hath believed our report? 

And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? 

For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, 
And as a root out of a dry ground. 

He hath no form nor comeliness; 

And when we shall see him, 

There is no beauty that we should desire him. 

He is despised and rejected of men; 

A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; 

And we hid as it were our faces from him ; 

He was despised, and we esteemed him not. 

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows 


327 


Yet we did esteem him stricken, 

Smitten of God and afflicted. 

But he was wounded for our transgressions ; 

He was bruised for our iniquities : 

The chastisement of our peace was upon him ; 

And with his stripes we are healed. 

All we like sheep have gone astray; 

We have turned every one to his own way; 

And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, 

Yet he opened not his mouth. 

He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter ; 

And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, 

So he openeth not his mouth. 

He was taken from prison and from judgment; 

And who shall declare his generation? 

For he was cut off out of the land of the living ; 

For the transgression of my people was he stricken. 

And he made his grave with the wicked, 

And with the rich in his death; 

Because he had done no violence, 

Neither was any deceit in his mouth. 

Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; 

He hath put him to grief. 

When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, 

He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, 

And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 

He shall see of the travail of his soul, 

And shall be satisfied. 

By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify 
many; 

For he shall bear their iniquities. 


328 


Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, 
And he shall divide the spoil with the strong; 
Because he hath poured out his soul unto death ; 

And he was numbered with the transgressors ; 

And he bare the sin of many, 

And made intercession for the transgressors. 


Exhortation to Belief 

(Chapter LV) 

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, 

And he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; 

Yea, come, buy wine and milk 
Without money and without price. 

Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not 
bread ? 

And your labour for that which satisfieth not? 

Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is 
good, 

And let your soul delight itself in fatness. 

Incline your ear, and come unto me; 

Hear, and your soul shall live; 

And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, 

Even the sure mercies of David. 

Behold I have given him for a witness to the people, 

A leader and commander to the people. 

Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, 
And nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee 
Because of the Lord thy God, 

And for the Holy One of Israel ; 

For he hath glorified thee. 

Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, 

Call ye upon him while he is near. 


329 


Let the wicked forsake his way, 

And the unrighteous man his thoughts ; 

And let him return unto the Lord, 

And he will have mercy upon him; 

And to our God, 

For he will abundantly pardon. 

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, 

Neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, 

So are my ways higher than your ways, 

And my thoughts than your thoughts. 

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, 
And returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, 

And maketh it bring forth and bud, 

That it may give seed to the sower, 

And bread to the eater; 

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth. 

It shall not return unto me void, 

But it shall accomplish that which I please, 

And it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 

For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace. 
The mountains and the hills shall break forth before you 
into singing, 

And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 
Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, 

And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree ; 
And it shall be to the Lord for a name, 

For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. 


The Glory of the Lord in Zion 

(Chapter LX) 

Arise, shine ; for thy light is come, 

And the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. 


330 


For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, 

And gross darkness the people ; 

But the Lord shall arise upon thee, 

And his glory shall be seen upon thee. 

And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, 

And kings to the brightness of thy rising. 

Lift up thine eyes round about, and see; 

All they gather themselves together, they come to thee; 
Thy sons shall come from far, 

And thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. 

Then thou shalt see, and flow together, 

And thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged ; 

Because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto 
thee, 

The forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. 

The multitude of camels shall cover thee, 

The dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; 

All they from Sheba shall come; 

They shall bring gold and incense; 

And they shall shew forth the praises of the Lord. 

All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto 
thee, 

The rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee; 

They shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, 

And I will glorify the house of my glory. 

Who are these that fly as a cloud, 

And as the doves to their windows? 

Surely the isles shall wait for me, 

And the ships of Tarshish first, 

To bring thy sons from far, 

Their silver and their gold with them, 

Unto the name of the Lord thy God, 


331 


And to the Holy One of Israel, 

Because he hath glorified thee. 

And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, 

And their kings shall minister unto thee; 

For in my wrath I smote thee, 

But in my favour have I had mercy on thee. 

Therefore thy gates shall be open continually ; 

They shall not be shut day nor night ; 

That men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, 
And that their kings may be brought. 

For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall 
perish ; 

Yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted. 

The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, 

The fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, 

To beautify the place of my sanctuary; 

And I will make the place of my feet glorious. 

The sons also of them that afflicted thee 
Shall come bending unto thee; 

And all they that despised thee 

Shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; 

And they shall call thee, The city of the Lord, 

The Zion of the Holy One of Israel. 

Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, 

So that no man went through thee, 

I will make thee an eternal excellency, 

A joy of many generations. 

Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, 

And shalt suck the breast of kings. 

And thou shalt know that I the Lord 
Am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, 

The mighty One of Jacob. 


332 


For brass I will bring gold, 

And for iron I will bring silver, 

And for wood brass, and for stones iron. 

I will also make thy officers peace, 

And thine exactors righteousness. 

Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, 

Wasting nor destruction withip thy borders ; 

But thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, 

And thy gates Praise. 

The sun shall be no more thy light by day; 

Neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto 
thee; 

But the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, 

And thy God thy glory. 

Thy sun shall no more go down ; 

Neither shall thy moon withdraw itself ; 

For the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, 

And the days of thy mourning shall be ended. 

Thy people also shall be all righteous. 

They shall inherit the land for ever, 

The branch of my planting, the work of my hands, 

That I may be glorified. 

A little one shall become a thousand, 

And a small one a strong nation. 

I the Lord will hasten it in his time. 

The Redemption of the People of Israel 

(Chapter LX1, Chapter LXII, and Chapter LXIII) 

61 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; 

Because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tid- 
ings unto the meek; 

He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, 

To proclaim liberty to the captives, 

And the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 


333 


To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, 

And the day of vengeance of our God; 

To comfort all that mourn; 

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, 

To give unto them beauty for ashes, 

The oil of joy for mourning, 

The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness ; 

That they might be called trees of righteousness, 

The planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. 

And they shall build the old wastes, 

They shall raise up the former desolations, 

And they shall repair the waste cities, 

The desolations of many generations. 

And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, 

And the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your 
vinedressers. 

But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord ; 

Men shall call you the Ministers of our God ; 

Ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, 

And in their glory shall ye boast yourselves. 

For your shame ye shall have double ; 

And for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion; 
Therefore in their land they shall possess the double ; 
Everlasting joy shall be unto them. 

For I the Lord love judgment, 

I hate robbery for burnt offering ; 

And I will direct their work in truth, 

And I will make an everlasting covenant with them. 

And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, 

And their offspring among the people : 

All that see them shall acknowledge them, 

That they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed. 

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, 

My soul shall be joyful in my God; 


334 


For he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, 
He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, 

As a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, 

And as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. 

For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, 

And as the garden causeth the things that are sown in 
it to spring forth ; 

So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise 
To spring forth before all the nations. 

62 For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, 

And for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, 

Until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, 
And the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. 

And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, 

And all kings thy glory ; 

And thou shalt be called by a new name, 

Which the mouth of the Lord shall name. 

Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the 
Lord, 

And a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. 

Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; 

Neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate; 
But thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah, 

And thy land Beulah : 

For the Lord delighteth in thee, 

And thy land shall be married. 

For as a young man marrieth a virgin, 

So shall thy sons marry thee; 

And as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, 

So shall thy God rejoice over thee. 

I have set watchmen upon thy walls, 0 Jerusalem, 

Which shall never hold their peace day nor night ; 

Ye that make mention of the Lord, 

Keep not silence, and give him no rest, 

335 


Till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem 
A praise in the earth. 

The Lord hath sworn by his right hand, 

And by the arm of his strength, 

Surely I will no more give thy corn 
To be meat for thine enemies; 

And the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine. 
For the which thou hast laboured ; 

But they that have gathered it 
Shall eat it, and praise the Lord ; 

And they that have brought it together 
Shall drink it in the courts of my holiness. 

Go through, go through the gates ; 

Prepare ye the way of the people ; 

Cast up, cast up the highway; 

Gather out the stones; 

Lift up a standard for the people. 

Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the 
world, 

Say ye to the daughter of Zion, 

Behold, thy salvation cometh ; 

Behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. 
And they shall call them, The holy people, 

The redeemed of the Lord; 

And thou shalt be called, Sought out, 

A city not forsaken. 

63 Who is this that cometh from Edom, 

With dyed garments from Bozrah? 

This that is glorious in his apparel, 

Travelling in the greatness of his strength? 

I that speak in righteousness, 

Mighty to save. 

Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, 

And thy garments like him that treadeth in the winef at ? 


336 


I have trodden the winepress alone; 

And of the people there was none with me : 

For I will tread them in mine anger, 

And trample them in my fury; 

And their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments. 
And I will stain all my raiment. 

For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, 

And the year of my redeemed is come. 

And I looked, and there was none to help ; 

And I wondered that there was none to uphold; 
Therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; 
And my fury, it upheld me. 

And I will tread down the people in mine anger, 

And make them drunk in my fury, 

And I will bring down their strength to the earth. 

I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, 

And the praises of the Lord, 

According to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, 

And the great goodness toward the house of Israel, 
Which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, 
And according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses. 

For he said, Surely they are my people, 

Children that will not lie : 

So he was their Saviour. 

In all their affliction he was afflicted, 

And the angel of his presence saved them ; 

In his love and in his pity he redeemed them ; 

And he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. 

But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit; 

Therefore he was turned to be their enemy, 

And he fought against them. 

Then he remembered the days of old, 

Moses, and his people, saying, 

Where is he that brought them up out of the sea 


337 


With the shepherd of his flock? 

Where is he that put his holy Spirit within him? 

That led them by the right hand of Moses 
With his glorious arm, 

Dividing the water before them, 

To make himself an everlasting name? 

That led them through the deep, 

As a horse in the wilderness, 

That they should not stumble ? 

As a beast goeth down into the valley, 

The Spirit of the Lord caused him to rest; 

So didst thou lead thy people, 

To make thyself a glorious name. 

Look down from heaven, and behold 

From the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory. 
Where is thy zeal and thy strength, 

The sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward 
me? 

Are they restrained? 

Doubtless thou art our father, 

Though Abraham be ignorant of us, 

And Israel acknowledge us not. 

Thou, O Lord, art our father, our redeemer; 

Thy name is from everlasting. 

0 Lord, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, 
And hardened our heart from thy fear? 

Return for thy servants' sake, 

The tribes of thine inheritance. 

The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little 
while ; 

Our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary. 

We are thine; thou never barest rule over them; 

They were not called by thy name. 


338 


The Glory of Jerusalem 

(Chapter LXVI) 


Thus saith the Lord, 

The heaven is my throne. 

And the earth is my footstool. 

Where is the house that ye build unto me? 

And where is the place of my rest? 

For all those things hath mine hand made, 

And all those things have been, saith the Lord. 

But to this man will I look, 

Even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, 

And trembleth at my word. 

He that killeth an ox 
Is as if he slew a man ; 

He that sacrificeth a lamb, 

As if he cut off a dog's neck ; 

He that offereth an oblation, 

As if he offered swine's blood ; 

He that burneth incense, 

As if he blessed an idol. 

Yea, they have chosen their own ways, 

And their soul delighteth in their abominations. 

I also will choose their delusions, 

And will bring their fears upon them; 

Because when I called, none did answer; 

When I spake, they did not hear ; 

But they did evil before mine eyes, 

And chose that in which I delighted not. 

Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word ; 
Your brethren that hated you, 

That cast you out for my name's sake, said, 

Let the Lord be glorified ; 

But he shall appear to your joy, 

And they shall be ashamed. 

339 


A voice of noise from the city, 

A voice from the temple, 

A voice of the Lord that rendereth recompence to his 
enemies. 

Before she travailed, she brought forth ; 

Before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. 
Who hath heard such a thing? 

Who hath seen such things ? 

Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? 

Or shall a nation be born at once? 

For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her 
children. 

Shall I bring to the birth, 

And not cause to bring forth? saith the Lord. 

Shall I cause to bring forth, 

And shut the womb? saith thy God. 

Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, 

All ye that love her ; 

Rejoice for joy with her, 

All ye that mourn for her ; 

That ye may suck, 

And be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; 
That ye may milk out, 

And be delighted with the abundance of her glory. 

For thus saith the Lord, 

Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, 

And the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream. 

Then shall ye suck, 

Ye shall be borne upon her sides, 

And be dandled upon her knees. 

As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort 
you; 

And ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. 

And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, 

And your bones shall flourish like an herb. 


340 


And the hand of the Lord shall be known toward his 
servants, 

And his indignation toward his enemies. 

For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, 

And with his chariots like a whirlwind, 

To render his anger with fury, 

And his rebuke with flames of fire. 

For by fire and by his sword 
Will the Lord plead with all flesh; 

And the slain of the Lord shall be many. 

They that sanctify themselves, 

And purify themselves in the gardens 
Behind one tree in the midst, 

Eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, 
Shall be consumed together, saith the Lord. 

For I know their works and their thoughts. 

It shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; 
And they shall come, and see my glory. 

And I will set a sign among them, 

And I will send those that escape of them unto the 
nations, 

To Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, 

To Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, 

That have not heard my fame, 

Neither have seen my glory; 

And they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. 

And they shall bring all your brethren 

For an offering unto the Lord out of all nations, 

Upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, 

And upon mules, and upon swift beasts, 

To my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the Lord, 

As the children of Israel bring an offering 
In a clean vessel into the house of the Lord. 

And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, 
Saith the Lord. 


341 


For as the new heavens and the new earth, 

Which I will make, 

Shall remain before me, saith the Lord, 

So shall your seed and your name remain. 

And it shall come to pass, 

That from one new moon to another, 

And from one sabbath to another, 

Shall all flesh come to worship before me, 

Saith the Lord. 

And they shall go forth and look upon the carcasses of 
the men 

That have transgressed against me ; 

For their worm shall not die, 

Neither shall their fire be quenched; 

And they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh. 


THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH 


The Clay and the Potter 

(Chapter XVIII) 

\ 

The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying*. 
Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will 
cause thee to hear my words. 

Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he 
wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made 
of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it 
again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. 

Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 0 house 
of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. 
Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine 
hand, O house of Israel. At what instant I shall speak con- 
cerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and 
to pull down, and to destroy it; if that nation, against whom 
I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the 
evil that I thought to do unto them. And at what instant 
I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, 
to build and to plant it; if it do evil in my sight, that it obey 
not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I 
said I would benefit them. 

Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to> 
the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the Lord: 
Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against 
you; return ye now every one from his evil way, and make 
your ways and your doings good. 

343 


And they said, There is no hope ; but we will walk after 
our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of 
his evil heart. 

Therefore thus saith the Lord: Ask ye now among the 
heathen, who hath heard such things? The virgin of Israel 
hath done a very horrible thing. Will a man leave the snow 
of Lebanon which cometh from the rock of the field? Or 
shall the cold flowing waters that come from another place be 
forsaken? Because my people have forgotten me, they have 
burned incense to vanity, and they have caused them to 
stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in 
paths, in a way not cast up ; to make their land desolate, and 
a perpetual hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be 
astonished, and wag his head. I will scatter them as with an 
east wind before the enemy; I will shew them the back, and 
not the face, in the day of their calamity. 

Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against 
Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor 
counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, 
and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give 
heed to any of his words. 

Give heed to me, 0 Lord, and hearken to the voice of them 
that contend with me. Shall evil be recompensed for good? 
For they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember that I 
stood before thee to speak good for them, and to turn away 
thy wrath from them. Therefore deliver up their children 
to the famine, and pour out their blood by the force of the 
sword ; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and 
be widows ; and let their men be put to death ; let their young 
men be slain by the sword in battle. Let a cry be heard from 
their houses, when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon 
them; for they have digged a pit to take me, and hid snares 
for my feet. Yet, Lord, thou knowest all their counsel against 
me to slay me. Forgive not their iniquity, neither blot out 
their sin from thy sight, but let them be overthrown before 
thee. Deal thus with them in the time of thine anger. 


344 


The Judgment of Babylon 

( Chapter L and Chapter LI, omitting vs. 59-6 U) 

50 The word that the Lord spake against Babylon and 
against the land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet. 

Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a 
standard; publish, and conceal not. Say, Babylon is taken, 
Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols 
are confounded, her images are broken in pieces. For out 
of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall 
make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein. They 
shall remove, they shall depart, both man and beast. 

In those days, and in that time, saith the Lord, the 
children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah 
together, going and weeping ; they shall go, and seek the Lord 
their God. They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces 
thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the 
Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten. 

My people hath been lost sheep. Their shepherds have 
caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the 
mountains ; they have gone from mountain to hill, they have 
forgotten their resting place. All that found them have 
devoured them. And their adversaries said, We offend not, 
because they have sinned against the Lord, the habitation of 
justice, even the Lord, the hope of their fathers. 

Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of 
the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he goats before the 
flocks. For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against 
Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country; 
and they shall set themselves in array against her; from 
thence she shall be taken ; their arrows shall be as of a mighty 
expert man; none shall return in vain. 

And Chaldea shall be a spoil; all that spoil her shall be 
satisfied, saith the Lord. Because ye were glad, because ye 
rejoiced, 0 ye destroyers of mine heritage, because ye are 

345 


grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls; your 
mother shall be sore confounded; she that bare you shall be 
ashamed; behold, the hindermost of the nations shall be a 
wilderness, a dry land, and a desert. Because of the wrath 
of the Lord it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly 
desolate ; every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, 
and hiss at all her plagues. 

Put yourselves in array against Babylon round about ; 

All ye that bend the bow, 

Shoot at her, spare no arrows ; 

For she hath sinned against the Lord. 

Shout against her round about; 

She hath given her hand; 

Her foundations are fallen, 

Her walls are thrown down : 

For it is the vengeance of the Lord. 

Take vengeance upon her; 

As she hath done, do unto her. 

Cut off the sower from Babylon, 

And him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest. 

For fear of the oppressing sword 

They shall turn every one to his people, 

And they shall flee every one to his own land. 

Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him 
away. First the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and 
last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his 
bones. Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of 
Israel, Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, 
as I have punished the king of Assyria. And I will bring 
Israel again to his habitation, and he shall feed on Carmel 
and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon mount 
Ephraim and Gilead. In those days, and in that time, saith 
the Lord, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there 


346 


shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be 
found; for I will pardon them whom I reserve. 

Go up against the land of Merathaim, 

Even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod, 
Waste and utterly destroy after them, saith the Lord, 
And do according to all that I have commanded thee. 

A sound of battle is in the land, 

And of great destruction. 

How is the hammer of the whole earth 
Cut asunder and broken ! 

How is Babylon become a desolation 
Among the nations ! 

I have laid a snare for thee, 

And thou art also taken, 0 Babylon, 

And thou wast not aware; 

Thou art found, and also caught, 

Because thou hast striven against the Lord. 

The Lord hath opened his armoury, 

And hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation. 
For this is the work of the Lord God of hosts 
In the land of the Chaldeans. 

Come against her from the utmost border, 

Open her storehouses; 

Cast her up as heaps, and destroy her utterly; 

Let nothing of her be left. 

Slay all her bullocks ; 

Let them go down to the slaughter. 

Woe unto them ! For their day is come, 

The time of their visitation. 

The voice of them that flee and escape 
Out of the land of Babylon, 

To declare in Zion the vengeance of the Lord our God, 
The vengeance of his temple. 

347 


Call together the archers against Babylon, 

All ye that bend the bow, 

Camp against it round about; 

Let none thereof escape. 

Recompense her according to her work; 

According to all that she hath done, do unto her. 

For she hath been proud against the Lord, 

Against the Holy One of Israel. 

Therefore shall her young men fall in the streets. 

And all her men of war shall be cut off in that day, 
Saith the Lord. 

Behold, I am against thee, 0 thou most proud, 

Saith the Lord God of hosts. 

For thy day is come, 

The time that I will visit thee. 

And the most proud shall stumble and fall, 

And none shall raise him up; 

And I will kindle a fire in his cities, 

And it shall devour all round about him. 

Thus saith the Lord of hosts, The children of Israel and 
the children of Judah were oppressed together; and all that 
took them captives held them fast; they refused to let them 
go. Their Redeemer is strong ; the Lord of hosts is his name. 
He shall thoroughly plead their cause, that he may give rest 
to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon. 

A sword is upon the Chaldeans, saith the Lord, and upon 
the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon 
her wise men. A sword is upon the liars; and they shall 
dote. A sword is upon her mighty men; and they shall be 
dismayed. A sword is upon their horses, and upon their 
chariots, and upon all the mingled people that are in the 
midst of her; and they shall become as women. A sword is 
upon her treasures ; and they shall be robbed. A drought is 
upon her waters; and they shall be dried up; for it is the 
land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols. 


348 


Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts 
of the islands shall dwell there, and the owls shall dwell there- 
in; and it shall be no more inhabited for ever; neither shall 
it be dwelt in from generation to generation. 

As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neigh- 
bour cities thereof, saith the Lord; so shall no man abide 
there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein. Behold, a 
people shall come from the north, and a great nation, and 
many kings shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. 
They shall hold the bow and the lance; they are cruel, and 
will not shew mercy; their voice shall roar like the sea, and 
they shall ride upon horses, every one put in array, like a 
man to the battle, against thee, 0 daughter of Babylon. The 
king of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands 
waxed feeble; anguish took hold of him, and pangs as of a 
woman in travail. Behold, he shall come up like a lion from 
the swelling of Jordan unto the habitation of the strong; but 
I will make them suddenly run away from her. And who is 
a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? For who is like 
me? And who will appoint me the time? And who is that 
shepherd that will stand before me? 

Therefore hear ye the counsel of the Lord, that he hath 
taken against Babylon; and his purposes, that he hath pur- 
posed against the land of the Chaldeans. Surely the least of 
the flock shall draw them out; surely he shall make their 
habitation desolate with them. At the noise of the taking of 
Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the 
nations. 

51 Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will raise up against 
Babylon, and against them that dwell in the midst of them 
that rise up against me, a destroying wind; and will send 
unto Babylon fanners, that shall fan her, and shall empty 
her land; for in the day of trouble they shall be against her 
round about. Against him that bendeth let the archer bend 
his bow, and against him that lifteth himself up in his brig- 
andine ; and spare ye not her young men ; destroy ye utterly 

349 


all her host. Thus the slain shall fall in the land of the 
Chaldeans, and they that are thrust through in her streets. 
For Israel hath not been forsaken, nor Judah of his God, of 
the Lord of hosts ; though their land was filled with sin against 
the Holy One of Israel. 

Flee out of the midst of Babylon, 

And deliver every man his soul; 

Be not cut off in her iniquity ; 

For this is the time of the Lord's vengeance ; 

He will render unto her a recompence. 

Babylon hath been a golden cup in the Lord's hand. 

That made all the earth drunken; 

The nations have drunken of her wine; 

Therefore the nations are mad. 

Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed. 

Howl for her; 

Take balm for her pain, 

If so be she may be healed. 

We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed; 
Forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country ; 
For her judgment reacheth unto heaven, 

And is lifted up even to the skies. 

The Lord hath brought forth our righteousness. 

Come, and let us declare in Zion 
The work of the Lord our God. 

Make bright the arrows ; gather the shields. 

The Lord hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the 
Medes. 

For his device is against Babylon, to destroy it; 

Because it is the vengeance of the Lord, 

The vengeance of his temple. 

Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, 

Make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, 


350 


Prepare the ambushes. 

For the Lord hath both devised and done 

That which he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon. 

0 thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in 
treasures, 

Thine end is come, 

And the measure of thy covetousness. 

The Lord of hosts hath sworn by himself, saying, 

Surely I will fill thee with men, as with caterpillars; 
And they shall lift up a shout against thee. 

He hath made the earth by his power, 

He hath established the world by his wisdom, 

And hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding. 
When he uttereth his voice, 

There is a multitude of waters in the heavens ; 

And he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of 
the earth. 

He maketh lightnings with rain, 

And bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures. 

Every man is brutish by his knowledge ; 

Every founder is confounded by the graven image; 

For his molten image is falsehood, 

And there is no breath in them. 

They are vanity, the work of errors ; 

In the time of their visitation they shall perish. 

The portion of Jacob is not like them; 

For he is the former of all things ; 

And Israel is the rod of his inheritance; 

The Lord of hosts is his name. 

Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war ; 

For with thee will I break in pieces the nations, 

And with thee will I destroy kingdoms ; 

And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his 
rider ; 


351 


And with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his 
rider ; 

With thee also will I break in pieces man and woman; 
And with thee will I break in pieces old and young; 

And with thee will I break in pieces the young man and 
the maid ; 

I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and 
his flock; 

And with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and 
his yoke of oxen; 

And with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers. 

And I will render unto Babylon 

And to all the inhabitants of Chaldea 

All their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, 

Saith the Lord. 

Behold, I am against thee, 0 destroying mountain, 

Saith the Lord, which destroyest all the earth. 

And I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, 

And roll thee down from the rocks, 

And will make thee a burnt mountain. 

And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, 
Nor a stone for foundations ; 

But thou shalt be desolate for ever, 

Saith the Lord. 

Set ye up a standard in the land, 

Blow the trumpet among the nations, 

Prepare the nations against her, 

Call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, 
and Ashchenaz; 

Appoint a captain against her; 

Cause the horses to come up as the rough caterpillars. 

Prepare against her the nations with the kings of the 
Medes, 


352 


The captains thereof, and all the rulers thereof, 

And all the land of his dominion. 

And the land shall tremble and sorrow; 

For every purpose of the Lord shall be performed against 
Babylon, 

To make the land of Babylon a desolation without an 
inhabitant. 

The mighty men of Babylon have forborne to fight, 

They have remained in their holds. 

Their might hath failed; 

They became as women. 

They have burned her dwellingplaces ; 

Her bars are broken. 

One post shall run to meet another, 

And one messenger to meet another, 

To shew the king of Babylon 
That his city is taken at one end, 

And that the passages are stopped, 

And the reeds they have burned with fire, 

And the men of war are affrighted. 

For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel : 

The daughter of Babylon is like a threshingfloor. 

It is time to thresh her ; 

Yet a little while, and the time of her harvest shall come. 

Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon hath devoured me, 
He hath crushed me, 

He hath made me an empty vessel, 

He hath swallowed me up like a dragon, 

He hath filled his belly with my delicates, 

He hath cast me out. 

The violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon, 
Shall the inhabitant of Zion say; 


353 


And my blood upon the inhabitants of Chaldea, 

Shall Jerusalem say. 

Therefore thus saith the Lord : 

Behold, I will plead thy cause, 

And take vengeance for thee ; 

And I will dry up her sea, 

And make her springs dry. 

And Babylon shall become heaps, 

A dwellingplace for dragons, 

An astonishment, and a hissing, 

Without an inhabitant. 

They shall roar together like lions; 

They shall yell as lions' whelps. 

In their heat I will make their feasts, 

And I will make them drunken, 

That they may rejoice, 

And sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, 

Saith the Lord. 

I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, 

Like rams with he goats. 

How is Sheshach taken! 

And how is the praise of the whole earth surprised ! 
How is Babylon become an astonishment among the 
nations ! 

The sea is come up upon Babylon; 

She is covered with the multitude of the waves thereof. 
Her cities are a desolation, 

A dry land, and a wilderness, 

A land wherein no man dwelleth. 

Neither doth any son of man pass thereby. 

And I will punish Bel in Babylon, 

And I will bring forth out of his mouth 


354 


That which he hath swallowed up ; 

And the nations shall not flow together any more unto 
him; 

Yea, the wall of Babylon shall fall. 

My people, go ye out of the midst of her and deliver ye 
every man his soul from the fierce anger of the Lord. And 
lest your heart faint, and ye fear for the rumour that shall 
be heard in the land ; a rumour shall both come one year, and 
after that in another year shall come a rumour, and violence 
in the land, ruler against ruler. Therefore, behold, the days 
come, that I will do judgment upon the graven images of 
Babylon ; and her whole land shall be confounded, and all her 
slain shall fall in the midst of her. Then the heaven and 
the earth, and all that is therein, shall sing for Babylon ; for 
the spoilers shall come unto her from the north, saith the 
Lord. As Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall, so 
at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth. Ye that have 
escaped the sword, go away, stand not still; remember the 
Lord afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind. We 
are confounded, because we have heard reproach ; shame hath 
covered our faces ; for strangers are come into the sanctuaries 
of the Lord's house. 

Wherefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that 
I will do judgment upon her graven images; and through all 
her land the wounded shall groan. Though Babylon should 
mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify the height 
of her strength, yet from me shall spoilers come unto her, 
saith the Lord. 

A sound of a cry cometh from Babylon, 

And great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans : 

Because the Lord hath spoiled Babylon, 

And destroyed out of her the great voice ; 

When her waves do roar like great waters, 

A noise of their voice is uttered ; 

Because the spoiler is come upon her, even upon Babylon, 
355 


And her mighty men are taken ; 

Every one of their bows is broken ; 

For the Lord God of recompences shall surely requite. 

And I will make drunk her princes, and her wise men, 
Her captains, and her rulers, and her mighty men; 
And they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, 
Saith the King, whose name is the Lord of hosts. 

Thus saith the Lord of hosts : 

The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken, 

And her high gates shall be burned with tire ; 

And the people shall labour in vain, 

And the folk in the fire, 

And they shall be weary. 


THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL 


The Valley of Dry Bones 

(Chapter XXXVII , vs. 1-14) 

The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out 
in the spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of 
the valley which was full of bones, and caused me to pass by 
them round about. And, behold, there were very many in 
the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. 

And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? 

And I answered, 0 Lord God, thou knowest. 

Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and 
say unto them, 0 ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 
Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones: Behold, I will 
cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live. And I will 
lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and 
cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live. 
And ye shall know that I am the Lord. 

So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophe- 
sied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones 
came together, bone to his bone. And when I beheld, lo, 
the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin 
covered them above ; but there was no breath in them. 

Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, 
son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord God: 
Come from the four winds, 0 breath, and breathe upon these 
slain, that they may live. 


357 


So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath 
came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, 
an exceeding great army. 

Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the 
whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, Our bones are dried, 
and our hope is lost; we are cut off for our parts. Therefore 
prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God: 
Behold, 0 my people, I will open your graves, and cause 
you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the 
land of Israel. And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when 
I have opened your graves, 0 my people, and brought you 
up out of your graves, and shall put my spirit in you, and 
ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land. Then 
shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed 
it, saith the Lord. 


THE BOOK OF DANIEL 

The Story of Nebuchadnezzar 

( Chapter II - Chapter IV) 

2 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, 
Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was 
troubled, and his sleep brake from him. Then the king com- 
manded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and 
the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his 
dreams. So they came and stood before the king. 

And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, 
and my spirit was troubled to know the dream. 

Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriac, O king, 
live for ever. Tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew 
the interpretation. 

The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing 
is gone from me; if ye will not make known unto me the 
dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in 
pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill. But if ye 
shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall re- 
ceive of me gifts and rewards and great honour. Therefore 
shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof. 

They answered again and said, Let the king tell his 
servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it. 

The king answered and said, I know of certainty that 
ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone 
from me. But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, 
there is but one decree for you. For ye have prepared lying 
and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be 


The Dreams of 
Nebuchadnezzar 


359 


changed. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that 
ye can shew me the interpretation thereof. 

The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There 
is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter ; 
therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such 
things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. And it 
is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other 
that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose 
dwelling is not with flesh. 

For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and 
commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. And 
the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; 
and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain. 

Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to 
Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, which was gone forth 
to slay the wise men of Babylon. He answered and said to 
Arioch the king’s captain, Why is the decree so hasty from 
the king? 

Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. Then 
Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give 
him time, and that he would shew the king the interpreta- 
tion. Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing 
known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions; 
that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven con- 
cerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not 
perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 

Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night 
vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel 
answered and said, 

Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever. 

For wisdom and might are his; 

And he changeth the times and the seasons ; 

He removeth kings, and setteth up kings; 

He giveth wisdom unto the wise, 

And knowledge to them that know understanding; 


360 


He revealeth the deep and secret things ; 

He knoweth what is in the darkness, 

And the light dwelleth with him. 

I thank thee, and praise thee, 0 thou God of my fathers, 
who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known 
unto me now what we desired of thee; for thou hast now 
made known unto us the king's matter. 

Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king 
had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went 
and said thus unto him : Destroy not the wise men of Baby- 
lon. Bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the 
king the interpretation. Then Arioch brought in Daniel 
before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found 
a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto 
the king the interpretation. 

The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was 
Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream 
which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof? 

Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, 
The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise 
men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew 
unto the king; but there is a God in heaven that revealeth 
secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what 
shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of 
thy head upon thy bed, are these. As for thee, 0 king, thy 
thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come 
to pass hereafter ; and he that revealeth secrets maketh known 
to thee what shall come to pass. But as for me, this secret 
is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than 
any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the 
interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the 
thoughts of thy heart. 

Thou, 0 king, sawest, and behold a great image. This 
great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before 
thee; and the form thereof was terrible. This image's head 


Daniel Interprets 
the Dreams of 
Nebuchadnezzar 


361 


was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly 
and his thighs of brass, his legs of iron, his feet part of iron 
and part of clay. Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out 
without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that 
were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was 
the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken 
to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer 
threshingfloors ; and the wind carried them away, that no 
place was found for them ; and the stone that smote the image 
became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. 

This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation 
thereof before the king. Thou, 0 king, art a king of kings ; 
for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, 
and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of 
men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven 
hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over 
them all. Thou art this head of gold. And after thee shall 
arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third 
kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. 
And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron; forasmuch 
as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things; and as 
iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and 
bruise. And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part 
of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be 
divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, 
forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. 
And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of 
clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. 
And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they 
shall mingle themselves with the seed of men ; but they shall 
not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. 
And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set 
up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed ; and the king- 
dom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in 
pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for 
ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out 


362 


of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces 
the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the 
great God hath made known to the king what shall come to 
pass hereafter. And the dream is certain, and the interpre- 
tation thereof sure. 

Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and 
worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer 
an oblation and sweet odours unto him. The king answered 
unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God 
of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing 
thou couldest reveal this secret. 

Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him 
many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province 
of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men 
of Babylon. Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set 
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, over the affairs of the 
province of Babylon. But Daniel sat in the gate of the king. 
3 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose 
height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six 
cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of 
Babylon. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather 
together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the 
judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the 
rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the 
image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. Then the 
princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treas- 
urers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the 
provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the 
image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they 
stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 

Then a herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, 0 
people, nations, and languages, that at what time ye hear 
the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulci- 
mer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the 
golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up. 


The Colden 
Image 


363 


Shadrach, Me- 
shach, and Abed- 
nego, and the 
Fiery Furnace 


And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same 
hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 

Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the 
sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all 
kinds of music, all the people, the nations, and the languages, 
fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchad- 
nezzar the king had set up. Wherefore at that time certain 
Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews. They spake and 
said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, 0 king, live for ever. Thou, 
0 king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear 
the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dul- 
cimer, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the 
golden image; and whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, 
that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery fur- 
nace. There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the 
affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and 
Abed-nego. These men, 0 king, have not regarded thee ; they 
serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou 
hast set up. 

Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded 
to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they 
brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar spake 
and said unto them, Is it true, 0 Shadrach, Meshach, and 
Abed-nego ? Do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden 
image which I have set up? Now if ye be ready that at what 
time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, 
psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down 
and worship the image which I have made, well; but if ye 
worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst 
of a burning fiery furnace. And who is that God that shall 
deliver you out of my hands ? 

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered and said 
to the king, 0 Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer 
thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able 
to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will 
deliver us out of thine hand, 0 king. But if not, be it known 


364 


unto thee, 0 king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship 
the golden image which thou hast set up. 

Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of 
his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and 
Abed-nego. Therefore he spake, and commanded that they 
should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was 
wont to be heated. And he commanded the most mighty 
men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and 
Abed-nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 
Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and 
their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the 
midst of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore because the 
king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceed- 
ing hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up 
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. And these three men, 
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound in the 
midst of the burning fiery furnace. 

Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose 
up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not 
we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They 
answered and said unto the king, True, 0 king. He answered 
and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of 
the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth 
is like the Son of God. 

Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the 
burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, 
Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, 
come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and 
Abed-nego came forth of the midst of the fire. And the 
princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, 
being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies 
the fire had no power, nor was a hair of their head singed, 
neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had 
passed on them. 

Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the 
God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent 


365 


Further Dreams of 
Nebuchadnezzar 
and the Interpre- 
tation thereof 


his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, 
and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, 
that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their 
own God. Therefore I make a decree, That every people, 
nation and language, which speak anything amiss against 
the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in 
pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill; because 
there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. 

Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed- 
nego, in the province of Babylon. 

4 Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and 
languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied 
unto you. I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders 
that the high God hath wrought toward me. How great are 
his signs ! And how mighty are his wonders ! His kingdom 
is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from genera- 
tion to generation. 

I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourish- 
ing in my palace. I saw a dream which made me afraid, and 
the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled 
me. Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men 
of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me 
the interpretation of the dream. Then came in the magicians, 
the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And I 
told the dream before them. But they did not make known 
unto me the interpretation thereof. 

But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name 
was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in 
whom is the spirit of the holy gods. And before him I told 
the .dream, saying, 0 Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, 
because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and 
no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that 
I have seen, and the interpretation thereof. 

Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed: I saw, 
and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height 
thereof was great. The tree grew, and was strong, and the 

366 


height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to 
the end of all the earth. The leaves thereof were fair, and 
the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all. The beasts 
of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven 
dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it. I 
saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a 
watcher and a holy one came down from heaven. He cried 
aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his 
branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit. Let the 
beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his 
branches. Nevertheless, leave the stump of his roots in the 
earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass 
of the field ; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let 
his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth. Let 
his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be 
given unto him ; and let seven times pass over him. This mat- 
ter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the 
word of the holy ones ; to the intent that the living may know 
that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth 
it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest 
of men. 

This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now 
thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, for- 
asmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to 
make known unto me the interpretation. But thou art able ; 
for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee. 

Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied 
for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. 

The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, 
or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. 

Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be 
to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine 
enemies. The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was 
strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight 
thereof to all the earth ; whose leaves were fair, and the fruit 
thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the 


367 


beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls 
of the heaven had their habitation : it is thou, 0 king, that art 
grown and become strong. For thy greatness is grown, and 
reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the 
earth. And whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one 
coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, 
and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in 
the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender 
grass of the field ; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, 
and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven 
times pass over him. 

This is the interpretation, 0 king, and this is the decree 
of the Most High, which is come upon my lord the king : That 
they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with 
the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass 
as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and 
seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the Most 
High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whom- 
soever he will. And whereas they commanded to leave the 
stump of the tree roots ; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, 
after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. 
Wherefore, 0 king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, 
and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities 
by shewing mercy to the poor ; if it may be a lengthening of 
thy tranquillity. 

All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. At the 
end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom 
of Babylon. The king spake, and said, Is not this great Baby- 
lon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the 
might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? 
While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice 
from heaven, saying, 0 king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is 
spoken. The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall 
drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts 
of the field; they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and 
seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the 


368 


Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to 
whomsoever he will. The same hour was the thing fulfilled 
upon Nebuchadnezzar. And he was driven from men, and did 
eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of 
heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his 
nails like birds’ claws. 

And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up 
mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned 
unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and hon- 
oured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an ever- 
lasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to gen- 
eration. And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as 
nothing. And he doeth according to his will in the army of 
heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth. And none 
can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? At 
the same time my reason returned unto me ; and for the glory 
of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto 
me ; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me ; and I 
Was established in my kingdom and excellent majesty was 
added unto me. Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and 
honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and 
his ways judgment; and those that walk in pride he is able 
to abase. 


The Story of Belshazzar 

(Chapter V) 

Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of 
his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. Belshazzar, 
while he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and 
silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out 
of the temple which was in Jerusalem ; that the king and his 
princes, his wives and his concubines, might drink therein. 
Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of 


369 


the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem ; and 
the king and his princes, his wives and his concubines, drank 
in them. They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, 
and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. 

In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, 
and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of 
the wall of the king's palace. And the king saw the part of 
the hand that wrote. 

Then the king's countenance was changed, and his 
thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were 
loosed, and his knees smote one against another. The king 
cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and 
the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise 
men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew 
me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, 
and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third 
ruler in the kingdom. 

Then came in all the king’s wise men ; but they could not 
read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpreta- 
tion thereof. 

Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his coun- 
tenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied. 

Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and 
his lords, came into the banquet house. And the queen spake 
and said, 0 king, live for ever. Let not thy thoughts trouble 
thee, nor let thy countenance be changed. There is a man in 
thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in 
the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, 
like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the 
king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, 
made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and 
soothsayers ; forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, 
and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of 
hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the 
same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let 
Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation. 


370 


Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the 
king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which 
art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king 
my father brought out of Jewry? I have even heard of thee, 
that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and under- 
standing and excellent wisdom is found in thee. And now 
the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before 
me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto 
me the interpretation thereof; but they could not shew the 
interpretation of the thing. And I have heard of thee, that 
thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts. Now 
if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the 
interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and 
have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third 
ruler in the kingdom. 

Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy 
gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I 
will read the writing unto the king, and make known to 
him the interpretation. 0 thou king, the most high God gave 
Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and 
glory, and honour. And for the majesty that he gave him, 
all people, nations, and languages trembled and feared before 
him. Whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept 
alive ; and whom he would he set up ; and whom he would he 
put down. But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind 
hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, 
and they took his glory from him. And he was driven from 
the sons of men ; and his heart was made like the beasts, and 
his dwelling was with the wild asses. They fed him with 
grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven ; 
till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of 
men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will. And 
thou his son, 0 Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, 
though thou knewest all this ; but hast lifted up thyself against 
the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of 
his house before thee, and thou and thy lords, thy wives and 


371 


thy concubines have drunk wine in them; and thou hast 
praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and 
stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know; and the God in 
whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast 
thou not glorified. Then was the part of the hand sent from 
him ; and this writing was written. 

And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, 
TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the interpretation of the 
thing: 

MENE — God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished 
it. 

TEKEL — Thou art weighed in the balances, and art 
found wanting. 

PERES — Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the 
Medes and Persians. 

Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel 
with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made 
a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third 
ruler in the kingdom. 

In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans 
slain. And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about 
threescore and two years old. 


Daniel in the Den of Lions 

(Chapter VI, omitting vs. 24-28) 

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and 
twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; 
and over these three presidents, of whom Daniel was first; 
that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king 
should have no damage. Then this Daniel was preferred 
above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit 


372 


was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole 
realm. 

Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion 
against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find 
none occasion nor fault ; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither 
was there any error or fault found in him. Then said these 
men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, 
except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. 

Then these presidents and princes assembled together to 
the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. 
All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the 
princes, the counsellors, and the captains have consulted 
together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm 
decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man 
for thirty days, save of thee, 0 king, he shall be cast into 
the den of lions. Now, 0 king, establish the decree, and sign 
the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of 
the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 

Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree. 

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he 
went into his house ; and, his windows being open in his cham- 
ber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times 
a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he 
did aforetime. 

Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and 
making supplication before his God- Then they came near, 
and spake before the king concerning the king's decree : Hast 
thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a 
petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, 
O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? 

The king answered and said, The thing is true, accord- 
ing to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 

Then answered they and said before the king, That Dan- 
iel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regard- 


373 


eth not thee, 0 king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, 
but maketh his petition three times a day. 

Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore dis- 
pleased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver 
him ; and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver 
him. 

Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto 
the king, Know, 0 king, that the law of the Medes and Per- 
sians is, that no decree nor statute which the king estab- 
lished may be changed. 

Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and 
cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said 
unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will 
deliver thee. And a stone was brought, and laid upon the 
mouth of the den ; and the king sealed it with his own signet, 
and with the signet of his lords ; that the purpose might not 
be changed concerning Daniel. 

Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night 
fasting; neither were instruments of music brought before 
him ; and his sleep went from him. 

Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went 
in haste unto the den of lions. And when he came to the 
den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel. And the 
king spake and said to Daniel, 0 Daniel, servant of the living 
God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver 
thee from the lions? 

Then said Daniel unto the king, 0 king, live for ever. 
My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, 
that they have not hurt me; forasmuch as before him inno- 
cency was found in me ; and also before thee, 0 king, have I 
done no hurt. 

Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and com- 
manded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. 

So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner 
of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God. 


374 


AMOS 


The Book of Amos is the earliest prophetic writing that is extant 
and of fixed date. Amos wrote about 750 He is the first of the 

long line of prophets in Israel which includes Hosea, Isaiah, Jeremiah, 
Ezekiel, and the lesser writers. The Prophet of the Old Testament was 
not merely or primarily a predicter of events to come, a “foreteller,” 
but rather a “forthteller,” an interpreter for God to Israel. He was 
both preacher and statesman, a seer and a guide in the affairs of the 
nation. Amos strikes the keynote of eighth-century prophecy. He de- 
clares to the people of Israel that God is the God of righteousness, and 
that privileges of a chosen people and ceremonials of religion do not 
of themselves guarantee Divine favor; that follows from the righteous- 
ness of the individual and the nation. 

The Prophecy of Amos is divided into three parts: (1) Chapters 1 
and 2, A Series of Oracles against the Syrians, Philistines, and Others; 
(2) Chapters 3-6, Prophecies against Israel; (3) Chapters 7-9, A Series 
of Visions. 

1 The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of 
Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah 
king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash 
king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. 

And he said, 

The Lord will roar from Zion, 

And utter his voice from Jerusalem ; 

And the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, 

And the top of Carmel shall wither. 

Thus saith the Lord: 

For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, 

I will not turn away the punishment thereof ; 


375 


Because they have threshed Gilead 
With threshing instruments of iron. 

But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, 

Which shall devour the palaces of Ben-hadad. 

I will break also the bar of Damascus, 

And cut off the inhabitant from the plain of Aven, 

And him that holdeth the sceptre from the house of Eden ; 
And the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir, 
Saith the Lord. 

Thus saith the Lord: 

For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, 

I will not turn away the punishment thereof; 

Because they carried away captive the whole captivity, 
To deliver them up to Edom. 

But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, 

Which shall devour the palaces thereof. 

And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, 

And him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon, 

And I will turn mine hand against Ekron ; 

And the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, 

Saith the Lord God. 

Thus saith the Lord: 

For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four, 

I will not turn away the punishment thereof ; 

Because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, 
And remembered not the brotherly covenant. 

But I will send a fire on the wall of Tyrus, 

Which shall devour the palaces thereof. 

Thus saith the Lord: 

For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, 

I will not turn away the punishment thereof; 

Because he did pursue his brother with the sword, 

And did cast off all pity, 


376 


And his anger did tear perpetually, 

And he kept his wrath for ever. 

But I will send a fire upon Teman, 

Which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah. 

Thus saith the Lord: 

For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and 
for four, 

I will not turn away the punishment thereof ; 

Because they have ripped up the women with child of 
Gilead, 

That they might enlarge their border. 

But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, 

And it shall devour the palaces thereof, 

With shouting in the day of battle, 

With a tempest in the day of the whirlwind ; 

And their king shall go into captivity, 

He and his princes together, 

Saith the Lord. 

2 Thus saith the Lord: 

For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, 

I will not turn away the punishment thereof ; 

Because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into 
lime. 

But I will send a fire upon Moab, 

And it shall devour the palaces of Kirioth ; 

And Moab shall die with tumult, 

With shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. 

And I will cut off the judge from the midst thereof, 

And will slay all the princes thereof with him, 

Saith the Lord. 

Thus saith the Lord: 

For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, 


377 


I will not turn away the punishment thereof; 

Because they have despised the law of the Lord, 

And have not kept his commandments, 

And their lies caused them to err, 

After the which their fathers have walked. 

But I will send a fire upon Judah, 

And it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem. 

Thus saith the Lord: 

For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, 

I will not turn away the punishment thereof ; 

Because they sold the righteous for silver, 

And the poor for a pair of shoes ; 

That pant after the dust of the earth 
On the head of the poor, 

And turn aside the way of the meek ; 

And a man and his father will go in unto the same maid, 
To profane my holy name ; 

And they lay themselves down upon clothes 
Laid to pledge by every altar, 

And they drink the wine of the condemned 
In the house of their God. 

Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them, 

Whose height was like the height of the cedars, 

And he was strong as the oaks; 

Yet I destroyed his fruit from above, 

And his roots from beneath. 

Also I brought you up from the land of Egypt, 

And led you forty years through the wilderness, 

To possess the’ land of the Amorite. 

And I raised up of your sons for prophets, 

And of your young men for Nazarites. 

Is it not even thus, 0 ye children of Israel? 

Saith the Lord. 

But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink; 


378 


And commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not. 

Behold, I am pressed under you, 

As a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves. 

Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, 

And the strong shall not strengthen his force, 

Neither shall the mighty deliver himself. 

Neither shall he stand that handleth the bow; 

And he that is swift of foot shall not deliver himself ; 
Neither shall he that rideth the horse deliver himself. 
And he that is courageous among the mighty 
Shall flee away naked in that day, 

Saith the Lord. 

3 Hear this word that the Lord hath spoken against you, 
O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought 
up from the land of Egypt, saying, 

You only have I known of all the families of the earth; 
Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. 

Can two walk together, except they be agreed? 

Will a lion roar in the forest, 

When he hath no prey? 

Will a young lion cry out of his den, 

If he have taken nothing? 

Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, 

Where no gin is for him? 

Shall one take up a snare from the earth, 

And have taken nothing at all? 

Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, 

And the people not be afraid? 

Shall there be evil in a city, 

And the Lord hath not done it? 

Surely the Lord God will do nothing, 

But he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. 
The lion hath roared, who will not fear? 

The Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy? 

379 


Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, 

And in the palaces in the land of Egypt, 

And say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of 
Samaria, 

And behold the great tumults in the midst thereof, 

And the oppressed in the midst thereof. 

For they know not to do right, saith the Lord, 

Who store up violence and robbery in their palaces. 

Therefore thus saith the Lord God: 

An adversary there shall be even round about the land; 
And he shall bring down thy strength from thee, 

And thy palaces shall be spoiled. 

Thus saith the Lord: 

As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion, 

Two legs, or a piece of an ear; 

So shall the children of Israel be taken out 
That dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, 

And in Damascus in a couch. 

Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, 

Saith the Lord God, the God of hosts, 

That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of 
Israel upon him 

I will also visit the altars of Beth-el; 

And the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to 
the ground. 

And I will smite the winter house with the summer house ; 
And the houses of ivory shall perish, 

And the great houses shall have an end, 

Saith the Lord. 

4 Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, 

That are in the mountain of Samaria, 

Which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, 

Which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink. 


380 


The Lord God hath sworn by his holiness, 

That, lo, the days shall come upon you, 

That he will take you away with hooks, 

And your posterity with fishhooks. 

And ye shall go out at the breaches, 

Every cow at that which is before her ; 

And ye shall cast them into the palace, 

Saith the Lord. 

Come to Beth-el, and transgress; 

At Gilgal multiply transgression; 

And bring your sacrifices every morning, 

And your tithes after three years ; 

And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, 

And proclaim and publish the free offerings. 

For this liketh you, 0 ye children of Israel, 

Saith the Lord God. 

And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your 
cities, 

And want of bread in all your places ; 

Yet have ye not returned unto me, 

Saith the Lord. 

And also I have withholden the rain from you, 

When there were yet three months to the harvest; 

And I caused it to rain upon one city, 

And caused it not to rain upon another city ; 

One piece was rained upon, 

And the piece whereupon it rained not withered. 

So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink 
water ; 

But they were not satisfied; 

Yet have ye not returned unto me, 

Saith the Lord. 

I have smitten you with blasting and mildew; 

When your gardens and your vineyards 


381 


And your fig trees and your olive trees increased, 

The palmer worm devoured them; 

Yet have ye not returned unto me, 

Saith the Lord. 

I have sent among you the pestilence 
After the manner of Egypt; 

Your young men have I slain with the sword, 

And have taken away your horses; 

And I have made the stink of your camps 
To come up unto your nostrils ; 

Yet have ye not returned unto me, 

Saith the Lord. 

I have overthrown some of you, 

As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, 

And ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning; 
Yet have ye not returned unto me, 

Saith the Lord. 

Therefore thus will I do unto thee, 0 Israel; 

And because I will do this unto thee, 

Prepare to meet thy God, 0 Israel. 

For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, 

And createth the wind, 

And declareth unto man what is his thought, 

That maketh the morning darkness, 

And treadeth upon the high places of the earth, 

The Lord, the God of hosts, is his name. 

5 Hear ye this word which I take up against you, 

Even a lamentation, 0 house of Israel. 

The virgin of Israel is fallen; 

She shall no more rise. 

She is forsaken upon her land; 

There is none to raise her up. 


382 


For thus saith the Lord God: 

The city that went out by a thousand 
Shall leave a hundred, 

And that which went forth by a hundred 
Shall leave ten, 

To the house of Israel. 

For thus saith the Lord unto the house of Israel : 

Seek ye me, and ye shall live; 

But seek not Beth-el, 

Nor enter into Gilgal, 

And pass not to Beer-sheba; 

For Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, 

And Beth-el shall come to nought. 

Seek the Lord, and ye shall live; 

Lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, 

And devour it, 

And there be none to quench it in Beth-el. 

Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, 

And leave off righteousness in the earth, 

Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, 

And turneth the shadow of death into the morning, 

And maketh the day dark with night; 

That calleth for the waters of the sea, 

And poureth them out upon the face of the earth. 

The Lord is his name: 

That strengthened the spoiled against the strong, 

So that the spoiled shall come against the fortress. 
They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, 

And they abhor him that speaketh uprightly. 

Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, 
And ye take from him burdens of wheat; 

Ye have built houses of hewn stone, 

But ye shall not dwell in them; 


383 


Ye have planted pleasant vineyards, 

But ye shall not drink wine of them. 

For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty 
sins; 

They afflict the just, they take a bribe, 

And they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right. 

Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; 
For it is an evil time. 

Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live; 

And so the Lord, the God of hosts, shall be with you, 
As ye have spoken. 

Hate the evil, and love the good, 

And establish judgment in the gate. 

It may be that the Lord God of hosts 
Will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph. 

Therefore the Lord, the God of hosts, the Lord, saith thus : 
Wailing shall be in all streets; 

And they shall say in all the highways, Alas! alas! 
And they shall call the husbandman to mourning, 
And such as are skilful of lamentation to wailing. 

And in all vineyards shall be wailing; 

For I will pass through thee, saith the Lord. 

Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord! 

To what end is it for you? 

The day of the Lord is darkness, and not light. 

As if a man did flee from a lion, 

And a bear met him; 

Or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, 
And a serpent bit him. 

Shall not the day of the Lord be darkness, and not light ? 
Even very dark, and no brightness in it? 

I hate, I despise your feast days, 

And I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. 


384 


Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offer- 
ings, 

I will not accept them; 

Neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat 
beasts. 

Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; 

For I will not hear the melody of thy viols. 

But let judgment run down as waters, 

And righteousness as a mighty stream. 

Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings 
In the wilderness forty years, 0 house of Israel? 

But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch 
And Chiun your images, 

The star of your god, which ye made to yourselves. 

Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond 
Damascus, saith the Lord, whose name is the God of hosts. 

6 Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, 

And trust in the mountain of Samaria, 

Which are named chief of the nations, 

To whom the house of Israel came. 

Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; 

And from thence go ye to Hamath the great; 

Then go down to Gath of the Philistines. 

Be they better than these kingdoms? 

Or their border greater than your border? 

Ye that put far away the evil day, 

And cause the seat of violence to come near; 

That lie upon beds of ivory, 

And stretch themselves upon their couches, 

And eat the lambs out of the flock, 

And the calves out of the midst of the stall; 

That chant to the sound of the viol, 

And invent to themselves instruments of music, like 
David ; 


385 


That drink wine in bowls, 

And anoint themselves with the chief ointments; 

But they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph. 

Therefore now shall they go captive 
With the first that go captive, 

And the banquet of them that stretched themselves 
Shall be removed. 

The Lord God hath sworn by himself, 

Saith the Lord the God of hosts, 

I abhor the excellency of Jacob, 

And hate his palaces; 

Therefore will I deliver up the city 
With all that is therein. 

And it shall come to pass, 

If there remain ten men in one house, 

That they shall die. 

And a man’s uncle shall take him up, 

And he that burneth him, 

To bring out the bones out of the house, 

And shall say unto him that is by the sides of the house, 
Is there yet any with thee? 

And he shall say, No. 

Then shall he say, Hold thy tongue ; 

For we may not make mention of the name of the Lord. 

For, behold, the Lord commandeth, 

And he will smite the great house with breaches, 

And the little house with clefts. 

Shall horses run upon the rock? 

Will one plow there with oxen? 

For ye have turned judgment into gall, 

And the fruit of righteousness into hemlock ; 

Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought, which say, 
Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength? 


386 


But, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, 

0 house of Israel, saith the Lord the God of hosts; 

And they shall afflict you from the entering in of Hemath 

Unto the river of the wilderness. 

7 Thus hath the Lord God shewed unto me; and, behold, 
he formed grasshoppers in the beginning of the shooting up 
of the latter growth ; and, lo, it was the latter growth after 
the king's mowings. And it came to pass, that when they had 
made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, 0 
Lord God, forgive, I beseech thee. By whom shall Jacob arise? 
For he is small. 

The Lord repented for this. It shall not be, saith the 
Lord. 

Thus hath the Lord God shewed unto me. And, behold, 
the Lord God called to contend by fire, and it devoured the 
great deep, and did eat up a part. Then said I, 0 Lord God, 
cease, I beseech thee. By whom shall Jacob arise? For he 
is small. 

The Lord repented for this. This also shall not be, saith 
the Lord God. 

Thus he shewed me. And, behold, the Lord stood upon 
a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand. 
And the Lord said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I 
said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a 
plumbline in the midst of my people Israel. I will not again 
pass by them any more. And the high places of Isaac shall 
be desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste ; 
and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword. 

Then Amaziah the priest of Beth-el sent to Jeroboam 
king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in 
the midst of the house of Israel. The land is not able to 
bear all his words. For thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall 
die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive 
out of their own land. Also Amaziah said unto Amos, 0 
thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and 


387 


there eat bread, and prophesy there ; but prophesy not again 
any more at Beth-el; for it is the king’s chapel, and it is 
the king’s court. 

Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no 
prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herd- 
man, and a gatherer of sycamore fruit. And the Lord took 
me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, 
prophesy unto my people Israel. Now therefore hear thou 
the word of the Lord. Thou sayest, Prophesy not against 
Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac. 
Therefore thus saith the Lord: Thy wife shall be an harlot 
in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the 
sword, and thy land shall be divided by line ; and thou shalt 
die in a polluted land ; and Israel shall surely go into captivity 
forth of his land. 

8 Thus hath the Lord God shewed unto me; and behold 
a basket of summer fruit. And he said, Amos, what seest 
thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said the 
Lord unto me, The end is come upon my people of Israel; I 
will not again pass by them any more. And the songs of the 
temple shall be howlings in that day, saith the Lord God. 
There shall be many dead bodies in every place; they shall 
cast them forth with silence. 

Hear this, 0 ye that swallow up the needy, 

Even to make the poor of the land to fail, saying, 

When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn ? 
And the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, 
Making the ephah small, and the shekel great, 

And falsifying the balances by deceit? 

That we may buy the poor for silver, 

And the needy for a pair of shoes; 

Yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat? 

The Lord hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob, 
Surely I will never forget any of their works. 

Shall not the land tremble for this, 


388 


And every one mourn that dwelleth therein? 

And it shall rise up wholly as a flood; 

And it shall be cast out and drowned, 

As by the flood of Egypt. 

And it shall come to pass in that day, 

Saith the Lord God, 

That I will cause the sun to go down at noon, 

And I will darken the earth in the clear day; 

And I will turn your feasts into mourning, 

And all your songs into lamentation; 

And I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, 

And baldness upon every head; 

And I will make it as the mourning of an only son, 
And the end thereof as a bitter day. 

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, 

That I will send a famine in the land, 

Not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, 

But of hearing the words of the Lord. 

And they shall wander from sea to sea, 

And from the north even to the east, 

They shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, 
And shall not find it. 

In that day shall the fair virgins and young men 
Faint for thirst. 

They that swear by the sin of Samaria, 

And say, Thy god, 0 Dan, liveth; 

And, The manner of Beer-sheba liveth; 

Even they shall fall, and never rise up again. 

9 I saw the Lord standing upon the altar. 

And he said, Smite the lintel of the door, 

That the posts may shake; 

And cut them in the head, all of them; 

And I will slay the last of them with the sword. 

389 


He that fleeth of them shall not flee away, 

And he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered. 

Though they dig into hell, 

Thence shall mine hand take them; 

Though they climb up to heaven, 

Thence will I bring them down; 

And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, 
I will search and take them out thence; 

And though they be hid from my sight 
In the bottom of the sea, 

Thence will I command the serpent, 

And he shall bite them; 

And though they go into captivity before their enemies. 
Thence will I command the sword, 

And it shall slay them; 

And I will set mine eyes upon them for evil, 

And not for good. 

And the Lord God of hosts is he that toucheth the land, 
And it shall melt, 

And all that dwell therein shall mourn. 

And it shall rise up wholly like a flood ; 

And shall be drowned, as by the flood of Egypt. 

It is he that buildeth his stories in the heaven, 

And hath founded his troop in the earth; 

He that calleth for the waters of the sea, 

And poureth them out upon the face of the earth: 
The Lord is his name. 

Are ye not as children of the Ethiopians unto me, 

0 children of Israel? saith the Lord. 

Have not I brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt? 
And the Philistines from Caphtor, 

And the Syrians from Kir? 

Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are upon the sinful 
kingdom, 


390 


And I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; 
Saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, 
Saith the Lord. 

For, lo, I will command, 

And I will sift the house of Israel among all nations. 
Like as corn is sifted in a sieve, 

Yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth. 

All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, 
Which say, The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us. 

In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that 
is fallen, 

And close up the breaches thereof; 

And I will raise up his ruins, 

And I will build it as in the days of old ; 

That they may possess the remnant of Edom, 

And of all the heathen, which are called by my name, 
Saith the Lord that doeth this. 

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, 

That the plowman shall overtake the reaper, 

And the treader of grapes him that soweth seed ; 

And the mountains shall drop sweet wine, 

And all the hills shall melt. 

And I will bring again the captivity of my people of 
Israel, 

And they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them ; 
And they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine 
thereof ; 

They shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. 

And I will plant them upon their land, 

And they shall no more be pulled up 
Out of their land which I have given them, 

Saith the Lord thy God. 


391 


JONAH 


The Book of Jonah is included in the Hebrew Bible as one of the 
Minor Prophets. It is a story about the prophet Jonah and his mission 
and was long thought to have been written by the prophet himself. It 
probably was written long after the time of Jonah, certainly after the 
Exile and possibly as late as the third century B. C. The story is an 
allegory having for its hero the prophet Jonah who lived in the time of 
Rehoboam II (8th century). It teaches the universal providence of God, 
the God of the Gentile as well as of the Jew. 


1 Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of 
Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and 
cry against it ; for their wickedness is come up before me. 

But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the pres- 
ence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found 
a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare thereof, and 
went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the 
presence of the Lord. 

But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and 
there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was 
like to be broken. Then the mariners were afraid, and cried 
every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were 
in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah 
was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and 
was fast asleep. So the shipmaster came to him, and said 
unto him, What meanest thou, 0 sleeper? Arise, call upon 
thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish 
not. And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let 


392 


us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is 
upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah. 

Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose 
cause this evil is upon us. What is thine occupation? And 
whence comest thou? What is thy country? And of what 
people art thou? 

And he said unto them, I am a Hebrew; and I fear the 
Lord, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the 
dry land. 

Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, 
Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled 
from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. 
Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that 
the sea may be calm unto us? For the sea wrought, and 
was tempestuous. 

And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth 
into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you. For I know 
that for my sake this great tempest is upon you. 

Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land ; 
but they could not, for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous 
against them. 

Wherefore they cried unto the Lord, and said, We beseech 
thee, 0 Lord, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's 
life, and lay not upon us innocent blood, for thou, 0 Lord, 
hast done as it pleased thee. 

So they took up Jonah and cast him forth into the sea. 
And the sea ceased from her raging. 

Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered 
a sacrifice unto the Lord, and made vows. 

Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up 
Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and 
three nights. 

2 Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the 
fish's belly, and said, 


393 


I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, 

And he heard me ; 

Out of the belly of hell cried I, 

And thou heardest my voice. 

For thou hadst cast me into the deep, 

In the midst of the seas ; 

And the floods compassed me about; 

All thy billows and thy waves passed over me. 

Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; 

Yet I will look again toward thy holy temple. 

The waters compassed me about, even to the soul ; 

The depth closed me round about ; 

The weeds were wrapped about my head. 

I went down to the bottoms of the mountains ; 

The earth with her bars was about me for ever; 

Yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, 

0 Lord my God. 

When my soul fainted within me 

1 remembered the Lord ; 

And my prayer came in unto thee, 

Into thine holy temple. 

They that observe lying vanities 
Forsake their own mercy. 

But I will sacrifice unto thee 
With the voice of thanksgiving ; 

I will pay that that I have vowed. 

Salvation is of the Lord. 

And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out 
Jonah upon the dry land. 

3 And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second 
time saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and 
preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. 


394 


So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the 
word of the Lord. 

Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days’ 
journey. And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s 
journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh 
shall be overthrown. 

So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed 
a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even 
to the least of them. For word came unto the king of Nineveh, 
and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, 
and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he 
caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh 
by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither 
man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing; let them not 
feed, nor drink water. But let man and beast be covered 
with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God ; yea, let them turn 
every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in 
their hands. Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and 
turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? 

And God saw their works, that they turned from their 
evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that 
he would do unto them ; and he did it not. 

4 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very 
angry. And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee, 
0 Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my 
country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish. For I knew 
that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and 
of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil. Therefore 
now, 0 Lord, take, I beseech thee, my life from me ; for it is 
better for me to die than to live. 

Then said the Lord, Doest thou well to be angry? 

So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side 
of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in 
the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city. 
And the Lord God prepared a gourd, and made it to come 

395 


up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to 
deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of 
the gourd. 

But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the 
next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered. And it 
came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a 
vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, 
that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is 
better for me to die than to live. 

And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for 
the gourd ? 

And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death. 

Then said the Lord, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for 
the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; 
which came up in a night, and perished in a night ; and should 
not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than 
sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their 
right hand and their left hand ; and also much cattle ? 


The New Testament 



THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO 
ST. MATTHEW 


The first three Gospels are called the "Synoptic” gospels in that 
they treat the life and work of Christ from the same point of view. 
The fourth Gospel, that of St. John, is not a life of Christ; it is rather 
a theological discussion of belief in Christ and in his teachings. Mat- 
thew, Mark, and Luke agree in that they have a common place, a common 
selection of incidents, similar groups of scenes, and frequent verbal 
agreement; they differ in that they present accounts of different events, 
exhibit differences in the several accounts of the same events, and show 
marked verbal differences. 1 All four of the Gospels are anonymous. 


The Sermon on the Mount 

( Chapter V - Chapter VII) 

5 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain. 
And when he was set, his disciples came unto him. And he 
opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 

Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the 
kingdom of heaven. 

Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be 
comforted. 

Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the 
earth. 

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after 
righteousness ; for they shall be filled. 

Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain 
mercy. 

1 See Adeney, A Biblical Introduction , pp. 317 ff. 


399 


Blessed are the pure in heart ; for they shall see God. 

Blessed are the peacemakers ; for they shall be called 
the children of God. 

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteous- 
ness’ sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and perse- 
cute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you 
falsely, for my sake. 

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your re- 
ward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets which 
were before you. 

Ye are the salt of the earth. But if the salt have lost his 
savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good 
for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot 
of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on 
a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put 
it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light 
unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before 
men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your 
Father which is in heaven. 

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the 
prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily 
I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle 
shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Who- 
soever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, 
and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the king- 
dom of heaven; but whosoever shall do and teach them, the 
same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I 
say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the 
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case 
enter into the kingdom of heaven. 

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou 
shalt not kill ; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of 
the judgment. But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry 
with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the 


400 


judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall 
be in danger of the council; but whosoever shall say, Thou 
fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if thou bring 
thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother 
hath aught against thee ; leave there thy gift before the altar, 
and go thy way. First be reconciled to thy brother, and then 
come and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly, 
while thou art in the way with him ; lest at any time the adver- 
sary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to 
the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto 
thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast 
paid the uttermost farthing. 

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou 
shalt not commit adultery. But I say unto you, That who- 
soever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed 
adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye 
offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee ; for it is prof- 
itable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not 
that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy 
right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee ; for it 
is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, 
and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. It hath 
been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give 
her a writing of divorcement. But I say unto you, That who- 
soever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of forni- 
cation, causeth her to commit adultery; and whosoever shall 
marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. 

Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of 
old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shall perform 
unto the Lord thine oaths. But I say unto you, Swear not at> 
all : neither by heaven, for it is God's throne ; nor by the earth, 
for it is his footstool ; neither by Jerusalem, for it is the city 
of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, be- 
cause thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let 
your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay. For whatsoever 
is more than these cometh of evil. 


401 


Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, 
and a tooth for a tooth. But I say unto you, That ye resist 
not evil; but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, 
turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at 
the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. 
And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him 
twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would 
borrow of thee turn not thou away. 

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy 
neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love 
your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that 
hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and 
persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father 
which is in heaven. For he maketh his sun to rise on the 
evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the 
unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward 
have ye? Do not even the publicans the same? And if ye 
salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others ? Do 
not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as 
your Father which is in heaven is perfect. 

6 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen 
of them ; otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which 
is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not 
sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the syn- 
agogues and in the streets, that they have glory of men. 
Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when 
thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right 
hand doeth; that thine alms may be in secret; and thy 
Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. 

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypo- 
crites are; for they love to pray standing in the synagogues 
and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of 
men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But 
thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou 
hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret ; and 
thy Father which seeth in secret sTiall reward thee openly. 

402 


But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen 
do; for they think that they shall be heard for their much 
speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them. For your 
Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye 
ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye : 

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be 
thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in 
earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily 
bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our 
debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but de- 
liver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the 
power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly 
Father will also forgive you; but if ye forgive not men their 
trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 

Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad 
countenance; for they disfigure their faces, that they may 
appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have 
their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, 
and wash thy face; that thou appear not unto men to fast, 
but unto thy Father which is in secret ; and thy Father which 
seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where 
moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through 
and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, 
where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves 
do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, 
there will your heart be also. 

The light of the body is the eye. If therefore thine eye 
be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine 
eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If there- 
fore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that 
darkness ! 

No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate 
the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, 


403 


and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what 
ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, 
what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the 
body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air; for they 
sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet 
your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better 
than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one 
cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for rai- 
ment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They 
toil not, neither do they spin. And yet I say unto you, That 
even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of 
these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, 
which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall 
he not much more clothe you, 0 ye of little faith? Therefore 
take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall 
we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after 
all these things do the Gentiles seek.) For your heavenly 
Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But 
seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness ; and 
all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no 
thought for the morrow; for the morrow shall take thought 
for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil 
thereof. 

7 Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judg- 
ment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure 
ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why behold- 
est thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest 
not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say 
to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; 
and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, 
first cast the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt 
thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. 

Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast 
ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under 
their feet, and turn again and rend you. 


404 


I 


Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; 
knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that 
asketh receiveth ; and he that seeketh findeth ; and to him that 
knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, 
whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if 
he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being 
evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how 
much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good 
things to them that ask him? Therefore all things what- 
soever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to 
them ; for this is the law and the prophets. 

Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and 
broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there 
be which go in thereat ; because strait is the gate, and narrow 
is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that 
find it. 

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's 
clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall 
know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, 
or figs of thistles. Even so every good tree bringeth forth 
good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A 
good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt 
tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not 
forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Where- 
fore by their fruits ye shall know them. 

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter 
into the kingdom of heaven ; but he that doeth the will of my 
Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, 
Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in 
thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many 
wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I 
never knew you. Depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and 
doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his 
house upon a rock. And the rain descended, and the floods 
came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it 

405 


fell not ; for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that 
heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be 
likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the 
sand. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the 
winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell; and great 
was the fall of it. 

And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these say- 
ings, the people were astonished at his doctrine. For he 
taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 


The Wise and the Foolish Virgins 

(Chapter XXV, vs. 1-13) 

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten 
virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the 
bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were fool- 
ish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no 
oil with them; but the wise took oil in their vessels with 
their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slum- 
bered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, 
Behold, the bridegroom cometh ; go ye out to meet him. Then 
all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the 
foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil ; for our lamps 
are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so, lest 
there be not enough for us and you ; but go ye rather to them 
that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to 
buy, the bridegroom came ; and they that were ready went in 
with him to the marriage; and the door was shut. After- 
ward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to 
us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know 
you not. Watch therefore; for ye know neither the day nor 
the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. 


406 


The Parable of the Talents 

(Chapter XXV , vs. 1U-30) 


For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a 
far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto 
them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another 
two, and to another one ; to every man according to his several 
ability; and straightway took his journey. 

Then he that had received the five talents went and 
traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And 
likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 
But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, 
and hid his lord’s money. 

After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and 
reckoneth with them. 

And so he that had received five talents came and brought 
other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five 
talents; behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful 
servant ; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make 
thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy 
lord. 

He also that had received two talents came and said, 
Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents; behold, I have 
gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him.. 
Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful 
over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; 
enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 

Then he which had received the one talent came and said. 
Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where 
thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not 
strawed ; and I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the 
earth ; lo, there thou hast that is thine. 

His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and 


407 


slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, 
and gather where I have not strawed. Thou oughtest there- 
fore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at 
my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 
Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him 
which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall 
be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him that 
hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And 
cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness. There 
shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 


THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO 
ST. MARK 

Jesus Foretells the Persecution of the Saints and the 
Destruction of the Temple 

(Chapter XIII) 

And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples 
saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what 
buildings are here ! 

And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these 
great buildings? There shall not be left one stone upon 
another, that shall not be thrown down. 

And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, over against 
the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him 
privately. Tell us, when shall these things be? And what 
shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled ? 

And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest 
any man deceive you ; for many shall come in my name, say- 
ing, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And when ye 
shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled ; 
for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. 
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against 
kingdom ; and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and 
there shall be famines and troubles ; these are the beginnings 
of sorrows. 

But take heed to yourselves. For they shall deliver you 
up to councils ; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten ; and 
ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for 
a testimony against them. And the gospel must first be pub- 
lished among all nations. But when they shall lead you, and 
deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall 
speak, neither do ye premeditate; but whatsoever shall be 
given you in that hour, that speak ye; for it is not ye that 

409 


speak, but the Holy Ghost. Now the brother shall betray 
the brother to death, and the father the son; and children 
shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to 
be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my 
name’s sake. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same 
shall be saved. 

But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, 
spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought 
not (let him that readeth understand), then let them that be 
in Judea flee to the mountains; and let him that is on the 
housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, 
to take any thing out of his house ; and let him that is in the 
field not turn back again for to take up his garment. But 
woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck 
in those days! And pray ye that your flight be not in the 
winter. For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not 
from the beginning of the creation which God created unto 
this time, neither shall be. And except that the Lord had 
shortened those days, no flesh should be saved; but for the 
elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the 
days. 

And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ ; 
or lo, he is there ; believe him not. For false Christs and false 
prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to 
seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed ; 
behold, I have foretold you all things. 

But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall 
be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light; and 
the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in 
heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of 
man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And 
then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his 
elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the 
earth to the uttermost part of heaven. 

Now learn a parable of the fig tree. When her branch 
is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer 


410 


is near; so ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things 
come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. Verily 
I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all 
these things be done. Heaven and earth shall pass away; 
but my words shall not pass away. 

But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not 
the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the 
Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray; for ye know not 
when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a 
far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his 
servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the 
porter to watch. Watch ye therefore; for ye know not when 
the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or 
at the cockcrowing, or in the morning; lest coming suddenly 
he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto 
all, Watch. 


Preface 


THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO 
ST. LUKE 

The Gospel of St. Luke is a masterpiece of biographical narrative. 
It is a conscious attempt on the part of its author to write a definitive, 
a final Life of Christ. At his service were the Gospel of St. Mark, the 
Gospel of St. Matthew, and other accounts of the life and work of 
Jesus. Much of his material is closely duplicated in the earlier gospels; 
chapters 9:51 to 18:34 contain sayings and stories which the author 
derived from other sources. Luke was a compiler, it is true; but he 
was a compiler who had the best part of originality, a gift for effective 
expression. It has been said that the Gospel of St. Luke is the most 
beautiful book ever written. 1 Such high praise the book assuredly 
deserves. It deals with the story of an ideal character, told in terms 
of general human understanding and appeal; the material which the 
writer selected from the great mass which was doubtless at his disposal 
tends, either in joy or in sorrow, to purify, to chasten, to elevate the 
emotions; the style is simple, direct, unadorned, refined. Theme, ma- 
terial, and expression are combined to form a work of literary art of 
permanent universal significance. 

The Birth and Childhood of Jesus 

(Chapter I and Chapter II) 

1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in 
order a declaration of those things which are most surely 
believed among us, even as they delivered them unto us, which 
from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the 
word; it seemed good to me also, having had perfect under- 
standing of all things from the very first, to write unto thee 
in order, most excellent Theophilus, that thou mightest 
know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been 
instructed. 


1 “C’est le plus beau livre qu’il y ait.” — Renan, Les Evangiles 

412 


There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a 
certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia ; and his 
wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was 
Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walk- 
ing in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord 
blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth 
was barren ; and they both were now well stricken in years. 

And it came to pass, that, while he executed the priest's 
office before God in the order of his course, according to the 
custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when 
he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multi- 
tude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. 
And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing 
on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias 
saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the 
angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias; for thy prayer is 
heard ; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou 
shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and glad- 
ness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be 
great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine 
nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, 
even from his mother's womb. And many of the children 
of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall 
go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the 
hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to 
the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for 
the Lord. 

And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know 
this? For I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in 
years. 

And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, 
that stand in the presence of God ; and am sent to speak unto 
thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. And, behold, thou 
shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these 
things shall be performed, because thou believest not my 
words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. 


The Conception of 
John the Baptist 
and of Jesus 


413 


And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that 
he tarried so long in the temple. And when he came out, he 
could not speak unto them. And they perceived that he had 
seen a vision in the temple; for he beckoned unto them, and 
remained speechless. 

And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his 
ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own 
house. 

And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and 
hid herself five months, saying, Thus hath the Lord dealt 
with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away 
my reproach among men. 

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from 
God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin 
espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of 
David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel 
came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly 
favoured, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among 
women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his say- 
ing, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this 
should be. 

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary, for thou 
hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt con- 
ceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his 
name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son 
of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the 
throne of his father David. And he shall reign over the 
house of Jacob for ever. And of his kingdom there shall 
be no end. 

Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing 
I know not a man? 

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy 
Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest 
shall overshadow thee; therefore also that holy thing which 
shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, 


414 


behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son 
in her old age ; and this is the sixth month with her, who was 
called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. 

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it 
unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed 
from her. 

And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill 
country with haste, into a city of Juda; and entered into the 
house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to 
pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, 
the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with 
the Holy Ghost. And she spake out with a loud voice, and 
said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit 
of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of 
my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice 
of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in 
my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed; for there 
shall be a performance of those things which were told her 
from the Lord. 

And Mary said, 

My soul doth magnify the Lord, 

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 

For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden ; 

For, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call 
me blessed. 

For he that is mighty hath done to me great things ; 

And holy is his name. 

And his mercy is on them that fear him 

From generation to generation. 

He hath shewed strength with his arm ; 

He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their 
hearts. 

He hath put down the mighty from their seats, 

And exalted them of low degree. 


The Magnificat 


415 


The Prophecy of 
Zacharias 


He hath filled the hungry with good things; 

And the rich he hath sent empty away. 

He hath holpen his servant Israel, 

In remembrance of his mercy; 

As he spake to our fathers, 

To Abraham, and to his seed forever. 

And Mary abode with her about three months, and 
returned to her own house. Now Elisabeth’s full time came 
that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. 
And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had 
shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. 
And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to cir- 
cumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the 
name of his father. And his mother answered and said, Not 
so; but he shall be called John. And they said unto her, 
There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. And 
they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. 
And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name 
is John. And they marvelled all. And his mouth was opened 
immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised 
God. And fear came on all that dwelt round about them. 
And all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the 
hill country of Judea. And all they that heard them laid 
them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall 
this be ! And the hand of the Lord was with him. 

And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, 
and prophesied, saying, 

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; 

For he hath visited and redeemed his people, 

And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us 
In the house of his servant David ; 

As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, 

Which have been since the world began ; 

That we should be saved from our enemies, 

And from the hand of all that hate us ; 


416 


To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, 

And to remember his holy covenant; 

The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, 

That he would grant unto us, 

That we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, 
Might serve him without fear, 

In holiness and righteousness before him, 

All the days of our life. 

And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest ; 
For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord 
To prepare his ways; 

To give knowledge of salvation unto his people 
By the remission of their sins, 

Through the tender mercy of our God ; 

Whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, 
To give light to them that sit in darkness 
And in the shadow of death, 

To guide our feet into the way of peace. 

And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was 
in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel. 

2 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a 
decree from Cesar Augustus, that all the world should be 
taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was 
governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into 
his own city. 

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of 
Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called 
Bethlehem (because he was of the house and lineage of 
David), to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great 
with child. 

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were 
accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought 
forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, 
and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for 
them in the inn. 


417 


And there were in the same country shepherds abiding 
in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, 
lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of 
the Lord shone around about them ; and they were sore afraid. 
And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring 
you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, 
which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you : 
Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in 
a manger. 

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of 
the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in 
the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from 
them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us 
now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come 
to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they 
came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe 
lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made 
known abroad the saying which was told them concerning 
this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those 
things which were told them by the shepherds. 

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in 
her heart. 

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising 
God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was 
told unto them. 

And when eight days were accomplished for the circum- 
cising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so 
named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 

And when the days of her purification according to the 
law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jeru- 
salem, to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the 
law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be 
called holy to the Lord), and to offer a sacrifice according to 

418 


that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtle- 
doves, or two young pigeons. 

And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name 
was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting 
for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Ghost was upon 
him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that 
he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 
And he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the 
parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the 
custom of the law, then took he him up in his arms, and 
blessed God, and said, 

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, 

According to thy word. 

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 

Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people ; 

A light to lighten the Gentiles, 

And the glory of thy people Israel. 

And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things 
which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them, and 
said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the 
fall and rising again of many in Israel ; and for a sign which 
shall be spoken against (Yea, a sword shall pierce through 
thy own soul also) ; that the thoughts of many hearts may 
be revealed. 

And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of 
Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser. She was of a great age, and 
had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity. 
And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, 
which departed not from the temple, but served God with 
fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that 
instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him 
to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. 

And when they had performed all things according to 
the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own 
city Nazareth. And the child grew, and waxed strong in 


Nunc Dimitlis 


419 


spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon 
him. 

Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the 
feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years old, 
they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And 
when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child 
Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother 
knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the 
company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among 
their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him 
not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And 
it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the 
temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, 
and asking them questions. And all that heard him were 
astonished at his understanding and answers. 

And when they saw him, they were amazed. And his 
mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us ? 
Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. 

And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? 
Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business ? 

And they understood not the saying which he spake unto 
them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, 
and was subject unto them. But his mother kept all these 
sayings in her heart. 

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in fa- 
vour with God and man. 


The Preaching of John the Baptist, the Baptism of 
Jesus, and the Temptation 

(Chapter III and Chapter IV, vs. 1 - 13 ) 

3 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cesar, 
Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being 
tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea 


420 


and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch 
of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the 
word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the 
wilderness. And he came into all the country about Jordan, 
preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins ; 
as it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, 
saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye 
the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley 
shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought 
low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough 
ways shall be made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salva- 
tion of God. 

Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be bap- 
tized of him, 0 generation of vipers, who hath warned you to 
flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits 
worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, 
We have Abraham to our father : for I say unto you, That God 
is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 
And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees : every 
tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn 
down, and cast into the fire. 

And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then ? 

He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two 
coats, let him impart to him that hath none ; and he that hath 
meat, let him do likewise. 

Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto 
him, Master, what shall we do? 

And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is 
appointed you. 

And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And 
what shall we do? 

And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither 
accuse any falsely ; and be content with your wages. 

And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused 
in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not; 


421 


John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you 
with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of 
whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose : he shall baptize you 
with the Holy Ghost and with fire : whose fan is in his hand, 
and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the 
wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire 
unquenchable. And many other things in his exhortation 
preached he unto the people. But Herod the tetrarch, being 
reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and 
for all the evils which Herod had done, added yet this above 
all, that he shut up John in prison. 

Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, 
that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was 
opened, and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like 
a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, 
Thou art my beloved Son ; in thee I am well pleased. 

And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as 
was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, which was 
the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of 
Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was the son of Joseph, which 
was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, which was the 
son of Naum, which Was the son of Esli, which was the son of Nagge, 
which was the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, which 
was the son of Semei, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son 
of Juda, which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, 
which was the son of Zorobabel, which was the son of Salathiel, which 
was the son of Neri, which was the son of Melchi, which was the son 
of Addi, which was the son of Cosam, which was the son of Elmodam, 
which was the son of Er, which was the son, of Jose, which was the son 
of Eliezer, wlhich was the son of Jorim, which was the son of Matthat, 
which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Simeon, which was the 
son of Juda, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Jonan, 
which was the son of Eliakim, which was the son of Melea, which was 
the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of 
Nathan, which was the son of David, which was the son of Jesse, which 
was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the son of 
Salmon, which was the son of Naasson, which was the son of Aminadab, 
which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the 
son of Phares, which was the son of Juda, which was the son of Jacob, 
which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was 
the son of Thara, which was the son of Nachor, which was the son of 
Saruch, which was the son of Ragau, which was the son of Phalec, 
which was the son of Heber, which was the son of Sala, which was the 

422 


son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of 
Sem, which was the son of Noe, which was the son of Lamech, which 
was the son of Mathusala, which was the son of Enoch, which was the 
son of Jared, which was the son of Maleleel, which was the son of 
Cainan, which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which 
was the son of Adam, which was the son of God. 

4 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from 
Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being 
forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did 
eat nothing; and when they were ended, he afterward 
hungered. 

And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, 
command this stone that it be made bread. 

And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man 
shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. 

And the devil, taking him up into a high mountain, 
shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment 
of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I 
give thee, and the glory of them; for that is delivered unto 
me; and to whomsoever I will, I give it. If thou therefore 
wilt worship me, all shall be thine. 

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind 
me, Satan. For it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord 
thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 

And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pin- 
nacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son 
of God, cast thyself down from hence; for it is written, He 
shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee, and in 
their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash 
thy foot against a stone. 

And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt 
not tempt the Lord thy God. 

And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he 
departed from him for a season. 


423 


The Early Ministry of Jesus 

(Chapter IV, vs. 1U-UU, and Chapter V — Chapter IX, vs. 1-50) 

And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Gali- 
lee. And there went out a fame of him through all the re- 
gion round about. And he taught in their synagogues, being 
glorified of all. 

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. 
And, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the 
sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was de- 
livered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when 
he had opened the book, he found the place where it was 
written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath 
anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent 
me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the 
captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at lib- 
erty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of 
the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to 
the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that 
were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began 
to say unto them, This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your 
ears. 

And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious 
words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is 
not this Joseph's son? 

And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this 
proverb, Physician, heal thyself; whatsoever we have heard 
done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country. And he said, 
Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own 
country. But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in 
Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up 
three years and six months, when great famine was through- 
out all the land; but unto none of them was Elias sent, save 
unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. 
And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the 


424 


prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the 
Syrian. 

And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these 
things, were filled with wrath, and rose up, and thrust him 
out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon 
their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. 
But he, passing through the midst of them, went his way, 
and came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught 
them on the sabbath days. And they were astonished at his 
doctrine ; for his word was with power. 

And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a 
spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, 
saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou 
Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy us? I know 
thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked 
him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when 
the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, 
and hurt him not. And they were all amazed, and spake 
among themselves, saying, What a word is this! For with 
authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and 
they come out. And the fame of him went out into every 
place of the country round about. 

And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into 
Simon’s house. And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a 
great fever; and they besought him for her. And he stood 
over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her; and imme- 
diately she arose and ministered unto them. 

Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any 
sick with divers diseases brought them unto him ; and he laid 
his hands on every one of them, and healed them. And devils 
also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art 
Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them 
not to speak ; for they knew that he was Christ. 

And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert 
place. And the people sought him, and came unto him, and 


Jesus Heals 
Divers Diseases 


425 


Miraculous Draft 
cf Fishes 


stayed him, that he should not depart from them. And he 
said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other 
cities also; for therefore am I sent. And he preached in the 
synagogues of Galilee. 

5 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him 
to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, 
and saw two ships standing by the lake; but the fishermen 
were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And 
he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and 
prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. 
And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. Now 
when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out 
into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And 
Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all 
the night, and have taken nothing; nevertheless at thy word 
I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they 
inclosed a great multitude of fishes ; and their net brake. And 
they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other 
ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, 
and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. When 
Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, 
Depart from me ; for I am a sinful man, 0 Lord. For he was 
astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the 
fishes which they had taken. And so was also James, and 
John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. 
And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou 
shalt catch men. And when they had brought their ships to 
land, they forsook all, and followed him. 

And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, be- 
hold a man full of leprosy, who seeing Jesus fell on his face, 
and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make 
me clean. And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, 
I will ; be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed 
from him. And he charged him to tell no man; but go, and 
shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, accord- 
ing as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. But 


426 


so much the more went there a fame abroad of him; and 
great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by 
him of their infirmities. 

And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed. 
And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that 
there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which 
were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judea, and Jeru- 
salem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. 
And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken 
with a palsy ; and they sought means to bring him in, and to 
lay him before him. And when they could not find by what 
way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they 
went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling 
with his couch into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw 
their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven 
thee. And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, say- 
ing, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can for- 
give sins, but God alone? But when Jesus perceived their 
thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in 
your hearts? Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven 
thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? But that ye may know 
that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins 
(he said unto the sick of the palsy), I say unto thee, Arise, 
and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. And imme- 
diately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he 
lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. And 
they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled 
with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day. 

And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, 
named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom; and he said 
unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed 
him. And Levi made him a great feast in his own house; 
and there was a great company of publicans and of others 
that sat down with them. But their scribes and Pharisees 
murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and 
drink with publicans and sinners? And Jesus answering said 


427 


The Pharisees 
Reproved 


unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but 
they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sin- 
ners to repentance. 

And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John 
fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of 
the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink? And he said unto 
them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, 
while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, 
when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and 
then shall they fast in those days. 

And he spake also a parable unto them. No man putteth 
a piece of a new garment upon an old ; if otherwise, then both 
the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the 
new agreeth not with the old. And no man putteth new wine 
into old bottles ; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and 
be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must 
be put into new bottles ; and both are preserved. No man also 
having drunk old wine straightway desireth new ; for he saith, 
The old is better. 

6 And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, 
that he went through the corn fields ; and his disciples plucked 
the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands. 
And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that 
which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days? And Jesus 
answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what 
David did, when himself was a hungered, and they which were 
with him; how he went into the house of God, and did take 
and eat the shew bread, and gave also to them that were with 
him ; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone ? 
And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of 
the sabbath. 

And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he 
entered into the synagogue and taught. And there was a 
man whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and 
Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sab- 


428 


bath day; that they might find an accusation against him. 
But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had 
the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. 
And he arose and stood forth. Then said Jesus unto them, 
I will ask you one thing : Is it lawful on the sabbath days to 
do good, or to do evil? To save life, or to destroy it? And 
looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, 
Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so; and his hand was 
restored whole as the other. And they were filled with mad- 
ness; and communed one with another what they might dc 
to Jesus. 

And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a 
mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 
And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples ; and of 
them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles: Simon 
(whom he also named Peter), and Andrew his brother, James 
and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, 
James the son of Alpheus, and Simon called Zelotes, and 
Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also 
was the traitor. 

And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, 
and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of 
people out of all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the sea 
coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to 
be healed of their diseases, and they that were vexed with 
unclean spirits. And they were healed. And the whole mul- 
titude sought to touch him ; for there went virtue out of him, 
and healed them all. 

And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, 
Blessed be ye poor ; for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed 
are ye that hunger now; for ye shall be filled. Blessed are 
ye that weep now ; for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye, when 
men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from 
their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your 
name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that 
day, and leap for joy; for, behold, your reward is great in 


The Choosing 
of the Disciples 


Jesus Addresses 
the Disciples 


429 


heaven; for in the like manner did their fathers unto the 
prophets. 

But woe unto you that are rich! For ye have received 
your consolation. Woe unto you that are full ! For ye shall 
hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! For ye shall mourn 
and weep. Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of 
you! For so did their fathers to the false prophets. 

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do 
good to them which hate you, bless them that curse you, 
and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto 
him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; 
and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy 
coat also. 

Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that 
taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would 
that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For 
if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? For 
sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to 
them which do good to you, what thank have ye ? For sinners 
also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye 
hope to receive, what thank have ye? For sinners also 
lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your 
enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; 
and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children 
of the Highest; for he is kind unto the unthankful and to 
the evil. 

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. 

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged; condemn not, 
and ye shall not be condemned ; forgive, and ye shall be for- 
given. 

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, 
pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall 
men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that 
ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. 

And he spake a parable unto them: Can the blind lead 


430 


the blind? Shall they not both fall into the ditch? The dis- 
ciple is not above his master; but every one that is perfect 
shall be as his master. And why beholdest thou the mote 
that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that 
is in thine own eye? Either how canst thou say to thy brother, 
Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when 
thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own 
eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine 
own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote 
that is in thy brother's eye. For a good tree bringeth not 
forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth 
good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For 
of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush 
gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure 
of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil 
man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that 
which is evil; for of the abundance of the heart his mouth 
speaketh. 

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things 
which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my say- 
ings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 
He is like a man which built a house, and digged deep, and 
laid the foundation on a rock; and when the flood arose, 
the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not 
shake it ; for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, 
and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built 
a house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat 
vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that 
house was great. 

7 Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience 
of the people, he entered into Capernaum. And a certain 
centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and 
ready to die. And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him 
the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come 
and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they 
besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for 

431 


whom he should do this; for he loveth our nation, and he 
hath built us a synagogue. Then Jesus went with them. And 
when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent 
friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself; 
for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof. 
Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee. 
But say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I 
also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, 
and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, 
and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 
When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and 
turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, 
I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in 
Israel. And they that were sent, returning to the house, found 
the servant whole that had been sick. 

And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a 
city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, 
and much people. Now when he came nigh to the gate of 
the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only 
son of his mother, and she was a widow. And much people 
of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he 
had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And 
he came and touched the bier. And they that bare him stood 
still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And 
he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered 
him to his mother. And there came a fear on all. And they 
glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among 
us; and, That God hath visited his people. And this rumor 
of him went forth throughout all Judea, and throughout all 
the region round about. 

And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things. 
And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to 
Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? Or look we 
for another? When the men were come unto him, they 
said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou 
he that should come? Or look we for another? And in that 


432 


same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, 
and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave 
sight. Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, 
and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that 
the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf 
hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. 
And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. 

And when the messengers of John were departed, he 
began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went 
ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with 
the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed 
in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously ap- 
parelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts. But what 
went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, 
and much more than a prophet. This is he, of whom it is 
written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which 
shall prepare thy way before thee. For I say unto you, Among 
those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet 
than John the Baptist; but he that is least in the kingdom 
of God is greater than he. 

And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, 
justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But 
the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against 
themselves, being not baptized of him. And the Lord said, 
Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? 
And to what are they like? They are like unto children sit- 
ting in the marketplace, and calling, one to another, and 
saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; 
we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept. For John 
the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; 
and ye say, He hath a devil. The Son of man is come eating 
and drinking, and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a 
winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! But wisdom 
is justified of all her children. 

And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat 
with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat 


433 


down to meat. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was 
a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Phari- 
see's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood 
at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet 
with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, 
and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 
Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he 
spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, 
would have known who and what manner of woman this is 
that toucheth him ; for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering 
said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. 
And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor 
which had two debtors ; the one owed five hundred pence, and 
the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frank- 
ly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them 
will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose 
that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him. 
Thou has rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and 
said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into 
thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet; but she 
hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the 
hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss ; but this woman, 
since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My 
head with oil thou didst not anoint; but this woman hath 
anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, 
Her sins, which are many, are forgiven ; for she loved much ; 
but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And 
he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat 
at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is 
this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, 
Thy faith hath saved thee ; go in peace. 

8 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout 
every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings 
of the kingdom of God ; and the twelve were with him, and 
certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and 
infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven 


434 


devils, and Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and 
Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of 
their substance. 

And when much people were gathered together, and 
were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable: 
A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell 
by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of 
the air devoured it. And some fell upon a rock; and as soon 
as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked 
moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns 
sprang up with it and choked it. And other fell on good 
ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit a hundredfold. And 
when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears 
to hear, let him hear. 

And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this 
parable be? And he said, Unto you it is given to know the 
mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to others in parables; 
that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not 
understand. Now the parable is this : The seed is the word 
of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then 
cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their 
hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the 
rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with 
joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and 
in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among 
thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and 
are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, 
and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good 
ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having 
heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. 

No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with 
a vessel, or putteth it under a bed ; but setteth it on a candle- 
stick, that they which enter in may see the light. For nothing 
is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither anything 
hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. Take heed 
therefore how ye hear. For whosoever hath, to him shall 


Parable of the 
Sower 


435 


Jesus Casts Out the 
Legion of Devils 


be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken 
even that which he seemeth to have. 

Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could 
not come at him for the press. And it was told him by cer- 
tain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, 
desiring to see thee. And he answered and said unto them, 
My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word 
of God, and do it. 

Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into 
a ship with his disciples. And he said unto them, Let us go 
over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched 
forth. But as they sailed, he fell asleep. And there came 
down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with 
water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to him, and 
awoke him, saying, Master, Master, we perish. Then he 
arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water; 
and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto 
them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, 
saying one to another, What manner of man is this! For 
he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey 
him. 

And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which 
is over against Galilee. And when he went forth to land, 
there met him out of the city a certain man, which had 
devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any 
house, but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out, 
and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What 
have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? 
I beseech thee, torment me not. (For he had commanded the 
unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had 
caught him ; and he was kept bound with chains and in fet- 
ters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil 
into the wilderness.) And Jesus asked him, saying, What 
is thy name? And he said, Legion; because many devils 
were entered into him. And they besought him that he would 
not command them to go out into the deep. And there was 


436 


there a herd of many swine feeding on the mountain ; and they 
besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. 
And he suffered them. Then went the devils out of the man, 
and entered into the swine; and the herd ran violently 
down a steep place into the lake, and were choked. When they 
that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and 
told it in the city and in the country. Then they went out to 
see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, 
out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of 
Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 
They also which saw it told them by what means he that was 
possessed of the devils was healed. 

Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gada- 
renes round about besought him to depart from them; for 
they were taken with great fear. And he went up into the 
ship, and returned back again. Now the man, out of whom 
the devils were departed, besought him that he might be 
with him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, Return to thine 
own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto 
thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the 
whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him. And 
it came to pass, that when Jesus was returned, the people 
gladly received him ; for they were all waiting for him. 

And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was 
a ruler of the synagogue; and he fell down at Jesus’ feet, 
and besought him that he would come into his house. For 
he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and 
she lay a dying. 

But as he went the people thronged him. And a woman 
having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her 
living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, came 
behind him, and touched the border of his garment. And 
immediately her issue of blood stanched. And Jesus said, 
Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were 
with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press 
thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And Jesus said, 

437 


Somebody hath touched me ; for I perceive that virtue is gone 
out of me. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, 
she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared 
unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched 
him, and how she was healed immediately. And he said 
unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort ; thy faith hath made 
thee whole; go in peace. 

While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of 
the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is 
dead; trouble not the Master. But when Jesus heard it, he 
answered him, saying, Fear not; believe only, and she shall 
be made whole. And when he came into the house, he suf- 
fered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and 
the father and the mother of the maiden. And all wept, and 
bewailed her. But he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but 
sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she 
was dead. And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, 
and called, saying, Maid, arise. And her spirit came again, 
and she arose straightway. And he commanded to give her 
meat. And her parents were astonished. But he charged 
them that they should tell no man what was done. 

9 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave 
them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. 
And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal 
the sick. And he said unto them, Take nothing for your 
journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither 
money ; neither have two coats apiece. And whatsoever house 
ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart. And whosoever 
will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, 'shake off 
the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them. 
And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching 
the gospel, and healing everywhere. 

Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by 
him ; and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, 
that John was risen from the dead ; and of some, that Elias 
had appeared ; and of others, that one of the old prophets was 


438 


risen again. And Herod said, John have I beheaded ; but who 
is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see 
him. 

And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all 
that they had done. And he took them, and went aside pri- 
vately into a desert place belonging to the city called Beth- 
saida. And the people, when they knew it, followed him. 
And he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom 
of God, and healed them that had need of healing. 

And when the day began to wear away, then came the 
twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they 
may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, 
and get victuals. For we are here in a desert place. But he 
said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We 
have no more but five loaves and two fishes ; except we should 
go and buy meat for all this people. For they were about 
five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them 
sit down by fifties in a company. And they did so, and made 
them all sit down. Then he took the five loaves and the two 
fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, 
and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. And 
they did eat, and were all filled. And there was taken up of 
fragments that remained to them twelve baskets. 

And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his dis- 
ciples were with him. And he asked them, saying, Whom say 
the people that I am? 

They answering him said, John the Baptist; but some 
say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is 
risen again. 

He said unto them, But whom say ye that lam? 

Peter answering said, The Christ of God. 

And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to 
tell no man that thing, saying, The Son of man must suffer 
many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests 
and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day. And 


439 


he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him 
deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever 
will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For 
what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and 
lose himself, or be cast away? For whosoever shall be 
ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man 
be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his 
Father's, and of the holy angels. But I tell you of a truth, 
there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, 
till they see the kingdom of God. 

And it came to pass about an eight days after these say- 
ings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a 
mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his 
countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and 
glistering. And, behold, there talked with him two men, 
which were Moses and Elias, who appeared in glory, and 
spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. 
But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with 
sleep. And when they were awake, they saw his glory, and 
the two men that stood with him. And it came to pass, as 
they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is 
good for us to be here. And let us make three tabernacles; 
one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias ; not know- 
ing what he said. While he thus spake, there came a cloud, 
and overshadowed them ; and they feared as they entered into 
the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, 
This is my beloved son ; hear him. And when the voice was 
past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told 
no man in those days any of those things which they had 
seen. 

And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they 
were come down from the hill, much people met him. And, 
behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I 
beseech thee, look upon my son; for he is mine only child. 
And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out ; and 

440 


it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him, 
hardly departeth from him. And I besought thy disciples 
to cast him out; and they could not. And Jesus answering 
said, 0 faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I 
be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither. And 
as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare 
him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the 
child, and delivered him again to his father. 

And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. 
But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus 
did, he said unto his disciples, Let these sayings sink down 
into your ears. For the Son of man shall be delivered into 
the hands of men. But they understood not this saying, and 
it was hid from them, that they perceived it not; and they 
feared to ask him of that saying. 

Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of 
them should be greatest. And Jesus, perceiving the thought 
of their heart, took a child, and set him by him, and said 
unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name 
receiveth me; and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth him 
that sent me ; for he that is least among you all, the same shall 
be great. 

And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting 
out devils in thy name; and we forbade him, because he fol- 
loweth not with us. And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him 
not ; for he that is not against us is for us. 


The Journey to Jerusalem 

(Chapter IX, vs. 51-62, and Chapter 
X — Chapter XIX, vs. 1-28) 

And it came to pass, when the time was come that he 
should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jeru- 
salem, and sent messengers before his face. And they went, 


441 


and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready 
for him. And they did not receive him, because his face was 
as though he would go to Jerusalem. And when his disciples 
James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we 
command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, 
even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and 
said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the 
Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save 
them. And they went to another village. 

And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a 
certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whither- 
soever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, 
and birds of the air have nests ; but the Son of man hath not 
where to lay his head. 

And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, 
suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto 
him, Let the dead bury their dead; but go thou and preach 
the kingdom of God. 

And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let 
me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 
And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to 
the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. 
Jesus Sends Out 10 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy 
seventy Disciples a i so> an( j sen t them two and two before his face into every 
city and place, whither he himself would come. Therefore 
said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labour- 
ers are few ; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that 
he would send forth labourers into his harvest. Go your 
ways; behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. 
Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes ; and salute no man 
by the way. And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, 
Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, 
your peace shall rest upon it ; if not, it shall turn to you again. 
And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such 
things as they give; for the labourer is worthy of his hire. 
Go not from house to house. And into whatsoever city ye 


442 


enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before 
you; and heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, 
The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But into what- 
soever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways 
out into the streets of the same, and say, Even the very dust 
of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you ; 
notwithstanding, be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God 
is come nigh unto you. But I say unto you, that it shall be 
more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. Woe 
unto thee, Chorazin ! Woe unto thee Bethsaida ! For if the 
mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have 
been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sit- 
ting in sackcloth and ashes. But it shall be more tolerable 
for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you. And 
thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust 
down to hell. He that heareth you heareth me; and he that 
despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me de- 
spiseth him that sent me. 

And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, 
even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And 
he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from 
heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents 
and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and 
nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding, in 
this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but 
rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. 

In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank 
thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid 
these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed 
them unto babes. Even so, Father; for so it seemed good in 
thy sight. All things are delivered to me of my Father ; and 
no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father ; and who the 
Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal 
him. 

And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, 
Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see. For 


443 


Parable of the 
Good Samaritan 


Mary and Martha 


I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see 
those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to 
hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. 

And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, 
saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 

He said unto him, What is written in the law? How 
readest thou? 

And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy 
God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy 
strength, and with all thy mind ; and thy neighbour as thyself. 

And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right; this 
do, and thou shalt live. 

But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And 
who is my neighbour? 

And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down 
from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which 
stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, 
leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a 
certain priest that way; and when he saw him, he passed 
by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at 
the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other 
side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where 
he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 
and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil 
and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to 
an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when 
he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the 
host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever 
thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 
Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto 
him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that 
shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do 
thou likewise. 

Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into 
a certain village. And a certain woman named Martha 


444 


received him into her house. And she had a sister called 
Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But 
Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, 
and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left 
me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me. 

And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou 
art careful and troubled about many things. But one thing 
is needful ; and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall 
not be taken away from her. 

11 And it came to pass, that as he was praying in a certain Teaching of 
place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Jesus 
Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. 

And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father 
which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom 
come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us 
day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for 
we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us 
not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. 

And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, 
and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, 
lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine in his journey is 
come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he 
from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not; the door 
is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot 
rise and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise 
and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his 
importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. 

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you ; seek, and ye 
shall find ; knock, and it shall opened unto you. For every one 
that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to 
him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread 
of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or 
if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he 
shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion ? If ye then, being 
evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how 


445 


much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit 
to them that ask him ? 

And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And 
it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb 
spake; and the people wondered. But some of them said, 
He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the 
devils. And others tempting him, sought of him a sign from 
heaven. But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, 
Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desola- 
tion; and a house divided against a house falleth. If Satan 
also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand ? 
Because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. 
And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons 
cast them out? Therefore shall they be your judges. But 
if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the 
kingdom of God is come upon you. When a strong man armed 
keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace; but when a 
stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, 
he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and 
divideth his spoils. He that is not with me is against me; 
and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. When the 
unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry 
places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return 
unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he 
findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh 
to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself ; and they 
enter in, and dwell there; and the last state of that man is 
worse than the first. 

And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain 
woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, 
Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou 
hast sucked. But he said, Yea, rather, blessed are they that 
hear the word of God, and keep it. 

And when the people were gathered thick together, he 
began to say, This is an evil generation; they seek a sign; 
and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the 


446 


prophet. For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall 
also the Son of man be to this generation. The queen of 
the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this 
generation, and condemn them ; for she came from the utmost 
parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, be- 
hold, a greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh 
shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall 
condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; 
and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. No man, when he 
hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither 
under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in 
may see the light. The light of the body is the eye. There- 
fore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of 
light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of dark- 
ness. Take heed therefore, that the light which is in thee be 
not darkness. If thy whole body therefore be full of light, 
having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when 
the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light. 

And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to 
dine with him. And he went in, and sat down to meat. And 
when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first 
washed before dinner. And the Lord said unto him, Now do 
ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the plat- 
ter ; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. 
Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without, make 
that which is within also? But rather give alms of such 
things as ye have; and behold, all things are clean unto you. 
But woe unto you, Pharisees ! For ye tithe mint and rue and 
all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love 
of God; these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the 
other undone. Woe unto you, Pharisees! For ye love the 
uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the 
markets. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! 
For ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that 
walk over them are not aware of them. 

Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, 


447 


Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also. And he said, 
Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! For ye lade men with bur- 
dens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the 
burdens with one of your fingers. Woe unto you! For ye 
build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed 
them. Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your 
fathers; for they indeed killed them, and ye build their 
sepulchres. Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send 
them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay 
and persecute; that the blood of all the prophets, which was 
shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this 
generation; from the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zach- 
arias, which perished between the altar and the temple. 
Verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation. 
Woe unto you, lawyers! For ye have taken away the key of 
knowledge ; ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were 
entering in ye hindered. 

And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the 
Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him 
to speak of many things; laying wait for him, and seeking 
to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse 
him. 

12 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an 
innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode 
one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of 
all, beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is 
hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered, that shall not be 
revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore, 
whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the 
light ; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall 
be proclaimed upon the housetops. And I say unto you my 
friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after 
that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn 
you whom ye shall fear : Fear him, which after he hath killed 
hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. 
Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of 


448 


them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of 
your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore; ye are of 
more value than many sparrows. Also I say unto you, Who- 
soever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man 
also confess before the angels of God; but he that denieth 
me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. And 
whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it 
shall be forgiven him ; but unto him that blasphemeth against 
the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven. And when they bring 
you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, 
take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer or what 
ye shall say; for the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same 
hour what ye ought to say. 

And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak 
to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And 
he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider 
over you? And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware 
of covetousness; for a man's life consisteth not in the abun- 
dance of the things which he possesseth. 

And he spake a parable unto them saying, The ground 
of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully. And he 
thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I 
have no room where to bestow my fruits ? And he said, This 
will I do : I will pull down my barns, and build greater ; and 
there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will 
say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many 
years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God 
said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required 
of thee. Then whose shall those things be, which thou hast 
provided ? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is 
not rich toward God. 

And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you. 
Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat ; neither for 
the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, 
and the body is more than raiment. Consider the ravens; 
for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have store- 


449 


house nor barn ; and God feedeth them. How much more are 
ye better than the fowls? And which of you with taking 
thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not 
able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for 
the rest? Consider the lilies how they grow; they toil not, 
they spin not ; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his 
glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so 
clothe the grass, which is today in the field, and tomorrow 
is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, 0 
ye of little faith? 

And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, 
neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the 
nations of the world seek after ; and your Father knoweth that 
ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the king- 
dom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. 
Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure 
to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; 
provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the 
heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither 
moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your 
heart be also. 

Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; 
and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when 
he will return from the wedding; that, when he cometh and 
knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are 
those servants, whom the Lord when he cometh shall find 
watching. Verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, 
and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and 
serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or 
come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those 
servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the house 
had known what hour the thief would come, he would have 
watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. 
Be ye therefore ready also. For the Son of man cometh at 
an hour when ye think not. 

Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this par- 
450 


able unto us, or even to all ? And the Lord said, Who then is 
that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make 
ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat 
in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when 
he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that 
he will make him ruler over all that he hath. But and if 
that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 
and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to 
eat and drink, and to be drunken ; the lord of that servant will 
come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour 
when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will 
appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that serv- 
ant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, 
neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many 
stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy 
of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whom- 
soever much is given, of him shall be much required; and to 
whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the 
more. 

I am come to send fire on the earth ; and what will I, if it 
be already kindled? But I have a baptism to be baptized 
with ; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished ! Sup- 
pose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, 
Nay; but rather division. For from henceforth there shall 
be five in one house divided, three against two, and two 
against three. The father shall be divided against the son, 
and the son against the father ; the mother against the daugh- 
ter, and the daughter against the mother ; the mother in law 
against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against 
her mother in law. 

And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise 
out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower ; 
and so it is. And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, 
There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. Ye hypocrites, ye 
can discern the face of the sky and of the earth ; but how is 


451 


Parable of the 
Fig Tree 


it that ye do not discern this time? Yea, and why even of 
yourselves judge ye not what is right? 

When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, 
as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be 
delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the 
judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into 
prison. I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou 
hast paid the very last mite. 

13 There were present at that season some that told him of 
the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their 
sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye 
that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, 
because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay; but, 
except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eight- 
een, upon whom the tower of Siloam fell, and slew them, 
think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in 
Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay; but, except ye repent, ye shall 
all likewise perish. 

He spake also this parable: A certain man had a fig 
tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit 
thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of 
his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit 
on this fig tree, and find none. Cut it down. Why cumbereth 
it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it 
alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it. And 
if it bear fruit, well; and if not, then after that thou shalt 
cut it down. 

And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the 
sabbath. And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit 
of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and 
could in no wise lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her, he 
called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed 
from thine infirmity. And he laid his hands on her; and 
immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. And 
the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, be- 
cause that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto 


452 


the people, There are six days in which men ought to work; 
in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath 
day. The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, 
doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his 
ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? And 
ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom 
Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this 
bond on the sabbath day? And when he had said these things, 
all his adversaries were ashamed; and all the people rejoiced 
for all the glorious things that were done by him. 

Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? 
And whereunto shall I resemble it ? It is like a grain of mus- 
tard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden ; and it 
grew, and waxed a great tree ; and the fowls of the air lodged 
in the branches of it. And again he said, Whereunto shall I 
liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman 
took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was 
leavened. 

And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, 
and journeying toward Jerusalem. 

Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be 
saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the 
strait gate; for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, 
and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is 
risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand 
without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open 
unto us ; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you 
not whence ye are ; then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten 
and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our 
streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence 
ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There 
shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see 
Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the 
kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. And they 
shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the 
north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom 

453 


of God. And, behold, there are last which shall be first; and 
there are first which shall be last. 

The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying 
unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence ; for Herod will kill 
thee. And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Be- 
hold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, 
and the third day I shall be perfected. Nevertheless I must 
walk today, and tomorrow, and the day following; for it 
cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem. 0 Jeru- 
salem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them 
that are sent unto thee ; how often would I have gathered thy 
children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her 
wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto 
you desolate. And verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see 
me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that 
cometh in the name of the Lord. 

14 And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one 
of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that 
they watched him. And, behold, there was a certain man 
before him which had the dropsy. And Jesus answering 
spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to 
heal on the sabbath day? And they held their peace. And 
he took him, and healed him, and let him go, and answered 
them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen 
into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sab- 
bath day? And they could not answer him again to these 
things. 

And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, 
when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms, saying 
unto them, When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, 
sit not down in the highest room ; lest a more honourable man 
than thou be bidden of him; and he that bade thee and him 
come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin 
with shame to take the lowest room. But when thou art bid- 
den, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that 
bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher ; 


454 


then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit 
at meat with thee. For whosoever exalteth himself shall be 
abased ; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. 

Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou mak- 
est a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy breth- 
ren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they 
also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee- But 
when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, 
the blind ; and thou shalt be blessed ; for they cannot recom- 
pense thee ; for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection 
of the just. 

And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard 
these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat 
bread in the kingdom of God. Then said he unto him, A 
certain man made a great supper, and bade many; and sent 
his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, 
Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one 
consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I 
have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see 
it; I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have 
bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them ; I pray thee 
have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, 
and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and 
shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house 
being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets 
and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the 
maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, 
Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is 
room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the 
highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my 
house may be filled. For I say unto you, That none of those 
men which were bidden shall taste of my supper. 

And there went great multitudes with him. And he 
turned, and said unto them, If any man come to me, and hate 
not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and breth- 
ren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my 

455 


Parable of the 
Lost Sheep 


disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come 
after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending 
to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, 
whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he 
hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that 
behold it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, 
and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war 
against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth 
whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that com- 
eth against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the 
other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and 
desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be 
of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my 
disciple. 

Salt is good ; but if the salt have lost his savour, where- 
with shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor 
yet for the dunghill ; but men cast it out. He that hath ears 
to hear, let him hear. 

15 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners 
for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, 
saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. 
And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of 
you, having a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not 
leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that 
which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, 
he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh 
home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying 
unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which 
was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven 
over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and 
nine just persons, which need no repentance. 

Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she 
lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, 
and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found 
it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, say- 
ing, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had 


456 


lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence 
of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. 

And he said, A certain man had two sons. And the 
younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the por- 
tion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them 
his living. 

And not many days after the younger son gathered all 
together, and took his journey into a far country, and there 
wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had 
spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he 
began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a 
citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to 
feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the 
husks that the swine did eat ; and no man gave unto him. 

And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired 
servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and 
I perish with hunger ! I will arise and go to my father, and 
will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and 
before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son; 
make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and 
came to his father. 

But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw 
him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and 
kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned 
against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to 
be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring 
forth the best robe, and put it on him ; and put a ring on his 
hand, and shoes on his feet ; and bring hither the fatted calf, 
and kill it ; and let us eat, and be merry ; for this my son was 
dead, and is alive again ; he was lost, and is found. And they 
began to be merry. 

Now his elder son was in the field. And as he came and 
drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And 
he called one of the servants, and asked what these things 
meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come ; and thy 
father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received 


Parable of the 
Prodigal Son 


457 


Parable of the 
Unjust Steward 


him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in. 
Therefore came his father out, and entreated him. And he 
answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve 
thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment; 
and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry 
with my friends. But as soon as this thy son was come, which 
hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for 
him the fatted calf. 

And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and 
all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make 
merry, and be glad; for this thy brother was dead, and is 
alive again; and was lost, and is found. 

16 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain 
rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused 
unto him that he had wasted his goods. And he called him, 
and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? Give 
an account of thy stewardship ; for thou mayest be no longer 
steward. Then the steward said within himself, What shall 
I do? For my lord taketh away from me the stewardship. 
I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. I am resolved what to 
do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may 
receive me into their houses. So he called every one of his 
lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much 
owest thou unto my lord? And he said, A hundred measures 
of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down 
quickly, and write fifty. Then said he to another, And how 
much owest thou ? And he said, A hundred measures of wheat. 
And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore. 
And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he 
had done wisely; for the children of this world are in their 
generation wiser than the children of light. 

And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the 
mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may 
receive you into everlasting habitations. He that is faithful 
in that which is least is faithful also in much; and he that 
is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye 


458 


have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who 
will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have 
not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall 
give you that which is your own? 

No servant can serve two masters. For either he will 
hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the 
one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 

And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all 
these things ; and they derided him. And he said unto them, 
Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God 
knoweth your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed 
among men is abomination in the sight of God. The law 
and the prophets were until John; since that time the king- 
dom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. And 
it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of 
the law to fail. Whosoever putteth away his wife, and 
marrieth another, committeth adultery; and whosoever mar- 
rieth her that is put away from her husband committeth 
adultery. 

There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple 
and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day. And there 
was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his 
gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs 
which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs 
came and licked his sores. 

And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was 
carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom. The rich man 
also died, and was buried. And in hell he lifted up his eyes, 
being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus 
in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have 
mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of 
his finger in water, and cool my tongue ; for I am tormented 
in this flame. 

But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy life- 
time receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil 


Story of the Rich 
Man and Lazarus 


459 


things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 
And beside all this, between us and you there is a great 
gulf fixed ; so that they which would pass from hence to you 
cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from 
thence. 

Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou 
wouldest send him to my father's house; for I have five 
brethren ; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come 
into this place of torment. 

Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the 
prophets; let them hear them. 

And he said, Nay, father Abraham; but if one went 
unto them from the dead, they will repent. 

And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the 
prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose 
from the dead. 

17 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that 
offences will come; but woe unto him, through whom they 
come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged 
about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should 
offend one of these little ones. 

Take heed to yourselves. If thy brother trespass against 
thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he 
trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times 
in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt for- 
give him. 

And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. 

And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mus- 
tard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou 
plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and 
it should obey you. But which of you, having a servant 
ploughing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, 
when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? 
And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I 
may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten 


460 


and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? Doth 
he thank that servant because he did the things that were 
commanded him? I trow not. So likewise ye, when ye shall 
have done all those things which are commanded you, say, 
We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which was 
our duty to do. 

And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he 
passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And as 
he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men 
that were lepers, which stood afar off. And they lifted up 
their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 
And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew your- 
selves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they 
went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw 
that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glori- 
fied God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him 
thanks. And he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering 
said, Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 
There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save 
this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way; 
thy faith hath made thee whole. 

And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the 
kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, 
The kingdom of God cometh not with observation. Neither 
shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! For, behold, the king- 
dom of God is within you. 

And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when 
ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and 
ye shall not see it. And they shall say to you, See here; or, 
see there. Go not after them, nor follow them. For as the 
lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, 
shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the 
Son of man be in his day. But first must he suffer many 
things, and be rejected of this generation. 

And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in 
the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they 

461 


married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day 
that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and 
destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of 
Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they 
planted, they builded. But the same day that Lot went out 
of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and 
destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when 
the Son of man is revealed. 

In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and 
his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it way ; 
and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. 
Remember Lot's wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life 
shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve 
it. I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one 
bed ; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two 
women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, 
and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one 
shall be taken, and the other left. And they answered and 
said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, 
Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered 
together. 

18 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men 
ought always to pray, and not to faint; saying, There was 
in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded 
man. And there was a widow in that city ; and she came unto 
him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would 
not for a while. But afterward he said within himself, Though 
I fear not God, nor regard man; yet because this widow 
troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming 
she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust 
judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which 
cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 
I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, 
when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth ? 

And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in 
themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 


Two men went up into the temple to pray ; the one a Phari- 
see, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed 
thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other 
men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this 
publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that 
I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not 
lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his 
breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, 
this man went down to his house justified rather than the 
other. For every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; 
and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. 

And they brought unto him also infants, that he would 
touch them. But when his disciples saw it, they rebuked 
them. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little 
children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such 
is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever 
shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall 
in no wise enter therein. 

And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, 
what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto 
him, Why callest thou me good? None is good, save one, 
that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not com- 
mit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false 
witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. And he said, 
All these have I kept from my youth up. Now when Jesus 
heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one 
thing; sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, 
and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, follow 
me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful; for 
he was very rich. 

And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he 
said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into 
the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go 
through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into 
the kingdom of God. 

And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? 

463 


And he said, The things which are impossible with men 
are possible with God. 

Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. 

And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There 
is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or 
wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, who shall 
not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the 
world to come life everlasting. 

Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, 
Behold,, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are writ- 
ten by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be 
accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, 
and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on ; 
and they shall scourge him, and put him to death; and the 
third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of 
these things. And this saying was hid from them, neither 
knew they the things which were spoken. 

And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto 
Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging. 
And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. 
And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. And 
he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on 
me. And they which went before rebuked him, that he should 
hold his peace. But he cried so much the more, Thou Son 
of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood, and com- 
manded him to be brought unto him. And when he was 
come near, he asked him, saying, What wilt thou that I shall 
do unto thee ? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. 
And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight; thy faith hath 
saved thee. And immediately he received his sight, and fol- 
lowed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they 
3 aw it, gave praise unto God. 

Story of Zaccheus 19 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, 
behold, there was a man named Zaccheus, which was the 
chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought 


464 


to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, be- 
cause he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed 
up into a sycamore tree to see him; for he was to pass that 
way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and 
saw him, and said unto him, Zaccheus, make haste, and come 
down ; for today I must abide at thy house. And he made 
haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when 
they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone 
to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And Zaccheus stood, 
and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods 
I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any 
man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus 
said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, for- 
asmuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man 
is come to seek and to save that which was lost. 

And as they heard these things, he added and spake a 
parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they 
thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. 
He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country 
to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he 
called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and 
said unto them, Occupy till I come. But his citizens hated 
him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have 
this man to reign over us. And it came to pass, that when 
he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he com- 
manded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he 
had given the money, that he might know how much every 
man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, 
Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said unto 
him. Well, thou good servant ; because thou hast been faithful 
in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. And the 
second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. 
And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. And 
another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which 
I have kept laid up in a napkin. For I feared thee, because 
thou art an austere man ; thou takest up that thou layest not 


Parable of the 
Ten Pieces of 
Money 


465 


down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. And he said unto 
him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked 
servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking 
up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow. 
Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, 
that at my coming I might have required mine own with 
usury? And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him 
the pound and give it to him that hath ten pounds. (And 
they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) For I say 
unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given ; and 
from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken 
away from him. But those mine enemies, which would not 
that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them 
before me. 

And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascend- 
ing up to Jerusalem. 


Jesus in Jerusalem 

(Chapter XIX , vs. 29-4-8 and Chapter XX — Chapter XXI) 

And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Beth- 
Entry into phage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, 
Jerusalem he sent two of his disciples, saying, Go ye into the village 
over against you ; in the which at your entering ye shall find 
a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat; loose him, and bring 
him hither. And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? 
thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of 
him. And they that were sent went their way, and found 
even as he said unto them. And as they were loosing the 
colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the 
colt? And they said, The Lord hath need of him. And they 
brought him to Jesus. And they cast their garments upon the 
colt, and they set Jesus thereon. And as he went, they spread 
their clothes in the way. 


466 


And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent 
of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples 
began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the 
mighty works that they had seen ; saying, Blessed be the king 
that cometh in the name of the Lord; peace in heaven, and 
glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees from among 
the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 
And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these 
should hold their peace the stones would immediately cry 
out. 

And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and 
wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at 
least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace ! 
But now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall 
come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about 
thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, 
and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children 
within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon 
another ; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. 

And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them 
that sold therein, and them that bought ; saying unto them, It 
is written, My house is the house of prayer; but ye have 
made it a den of thieves. 

And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests 
and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy 
him, and could not find what they might do. For all the peo- 
ple were very attentive to hear him. 

20 And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he 
taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the 
chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders, 
and spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest 
thou these things? Or who is he that gave thee this author- 
ity? And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask 
you one thing; and answer me: The baptism of John, was it 
from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with them- 

467 


Jesus Teaches 
in Jerusalem 


selves saying, If we shall say, From heaven ; he will say, Why 
then believed ye him not? But and if we say, Of men; all 
the people will stone us ; for they be persuaded that John was 
a prophet. And they answered, that they could not tell 
whence it was. And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you 
by what authority I do these things. 

Then began he to speak to the people this parable. A 
certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husband- 
men, and went into a far country for a long time. And at 
the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they 
should give him of the fruit of the vineyard. But the hus- 
bandmen beat him, and sent him away empty. And again 
he sent another servant. And they beat him also, and entreated 
him shamefully, and sent him away empty. And again he 
sent a third. And they wounded him also, and cast him out. 
Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I 
will send my beloved son. It may be they will reverence him 
when they see him. But when the husbandmen saw him, 
they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir. 
Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours. So 
they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What 
therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them? He 
shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give 
the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, 
God forbid. And he beheld them, and said, What is this 
then that is written. The stone which the builders rejected, 
the same is become the head of the corner? Whosoever shall 
fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it 
shall fall, it will grind him to powder. 

And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour 
sought to lay hands on him. And they feared the people ; for 
they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them. 
And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should 
feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his 
words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and 
authority of the governor. And they asked him saying, 

468 


Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither 
acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of 
God truly. Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Cesar, or 
no? But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, 
Why tempt ye me? Shew me a penny. Whose image and 
superscription hath it? They answered and said, Cesar's. 
And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Cesar the 
things which be Cesar's, and unto God the things which be 
God's. And they could not take hold of his words before the 
people; and they marvelled at his answer, and held their 
peace. 

Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny 
that there is any resurrection; and they asked him, saying, 
Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man's brother die, 
having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother 
should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 
There were therefore seven brethren. And the first took 
a wife, and died without children. And the second took her 
to wife, and he died childless. And the third took her; and 
in like manner the seven also ; and they left no children, and 
died. Last of all the woman died also. Therefore in the 
resurrection whose wife of them is she? For seven had her 
to wife. 

And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this 
world marry, and are given in marriage ; but they which shall 
be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrec- 
tion from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage. 
Neither can they die any more; for they are equal unto the 
angels ; and are the children of God, being the children of the 
resurrection. Now that the dead are raised, even Moses 
shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of 
Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. For 
he is not a God of the dead, but of the living ; for all live unto 
him. 

Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou 


469 


hast well said. And after that they durst not ask him any 
question at all. 

And he said unto them, How say they that Christ is 
David’s son? And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, 
The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till 
I make thine enemies thy footstool. David therefore calleth 
him Lord, how is he then his son? 

Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his 
disciples, Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long 
robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats 
in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; which de- 
vour widows’ houses, and for a shew make long prayers. 
The same shall receive greater damnation. 

21 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their 
gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor 
widow casting in thither two mites. And he said, Of a truth 
I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than 
they all. For all these have of their abundance cast in unto 
the offerings of God; but she of her penury hath cast in all 
the living that she had. 

And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned 
with goodly stones and gifts, he said, As for these things 
which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall 
not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown 
down. 

And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall 
these things be? And what sign will there be when these 
things shall come to pass? And he said, Take heed that ye 
be not deceived. For many shall come in my name, saying, 
I am Christ ; and the time draweth near ; go ye not therefore 
after them. But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, 
be not terrified ; for these things must first come to pass ; but 
the end is not by and by. 

Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, 
and kingdom against kingdom. And great earthquakes shall 

470 


be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences ; and fearful 
sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. But 
before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and perse- 
cute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into 
prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s 
sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony. Settle it 
therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall 
answer. For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all 
your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. And 
ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kins- 
folks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be 
put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s 
sake. But there shall not a hair of your head perish. In 
your patience possess ye your souls. 

And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, 
then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them 
which are in Judea flee to the mountains ; and let them which 
are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are 
in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of 
vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 
But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give 
suck, in those days ! For there shall be great distress in the 
land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by 
the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all 
nations. And Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gen- 
tiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. 

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and 
in the stars ; and upon the earth distress of nations, with per- 
plexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing 
them for fear, and for looking after those things which are 
coming on the earth. For the powers of heaven shall be 
shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in 
a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things 
begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads ; 
for your redemption draweth nigh. 

And he spake to them a parable : Behold the fig tree, and 


471 


all the trees ; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of 
your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So like- 
wise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that 
the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, 
This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. 
Heaven and earth shall pass away; but my words shall not 
pass away. 

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts 
be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares 
of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For 
as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of 
the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that 
ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that 
shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. 

And in the daytime he was teaching in the temple; and 
at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the 
mount of Olives. And all the people came early in the morn- 
ing to him in the temple, for to hear him. 


The Passion and Resurrection of Jesus 

(Chapter XXII— Chapter XXIV) 

22 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is 
called the passover. And the chief priests and scribes sought 
how they might kill him ; for they feared the people. 

Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being 
of the number of the twelve. And he went his way, and com- 
muned with the chief priests and captains, how he might 
betray him unto them. And they were glad, and covenanted 
to give him money. And he promised, and sought oppor- 
tunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multi- 
tude. 

The Last Supper Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the pass- 
over must be killed. And he sent Peter and John, saying, 

472 


Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. And they 
said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? And he 
said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, 
there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; fol- 
low him into the house where he entereth in. And ye shall 
say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto 
thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the pass- 
over with my disciples ? And he shall shew you a large upper 
room furnished. There make ready. And they went, and 
found as he had said unto them. And they made ready the 
passover. 

And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve 
apostles with him. And he said unto them, With desire I 
have desired to eat this passover with you before I suifer. 
For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be 
fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and 
gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among your- 
selves. For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of 
the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took 
bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, 
saying, This is my body which is given for you ; this do in 
remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, say- 
ing, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed 
for you. 

But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with 
me on the table. And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was 
determined. But woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed ! 

And they began to inquire among themselves, which of 
them it was that should do this thing. 

And there was also a strife among them, which of them 
should be accounted the greatest. And he said unto them, 
The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and 
they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 
But ye shall not be so. But he that is greatest among you, 
let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that 
doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, 


473 


The Agony of 
Jesus 


or he that serveth? Is not he that sitteth at meat? But I 
am among you as he that serveth. Ye are they which have 
continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto 
you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that 
ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on 
thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath de- 
sired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have 
prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art 
converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, 
Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to 
death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow 
this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest 
me. And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, 
and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, 
Nothing. Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a 
purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip ; and he that hath 
no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. For I say 
unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished 
in me. And he was reckoned among the transgressors. For 
the things concerning me have an end. And they said, Lord, 
behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is 
enough. 

And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount 
of Olives ; and his disciples also followed him. And when he 
was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not 
into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a 
stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, saying, Father, 
if thou be willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, 
not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel 
unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an 
agony he prayed more earnestly. And his sweat was as it 
were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And 
when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, 
he found them sleeping for sorrow, and said unto them, Why 
sleep ye? Rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. 


474 


And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that 
was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and 
drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said unto him, 
J udas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss ? 

When they which were about him saw what would follow, 
they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? 
And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and 
cut off his right ear. And Jesus answered and said, Suffer 
ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. 

Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of 
the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye 
come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? When 
I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands 
against me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness. 

Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into 
the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off. And 
when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and 
were set down together, Peter sat down among them. But a 
certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly 
looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. And 
he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. And after a 
little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. 
And Peter said, Man, I am not. And about the space of one 
hour after, another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth 
this fellow also was with him; for he is a Galilean. And 
Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And imme- 
diately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord 
turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the 
word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock 
crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and 
wept bitterly. 

And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. 
And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the 
face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote 
thee? And many other things blasphemously spake they 
against him. 


Peter Denies 
Jesus 


475 


And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and 
the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him 
into their council, saying, Art thou the Christ? Tell us. And 
he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe ; and if I 
also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go. Hereafter 
shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of 
God. Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And 
he said unto them, Ye say that I am. And they said, What 
need we any further witness? For we ourselves have heard 
of his own mouth. 

jesus before 23 And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto 
pl,ate Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this 
fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute 
to Cesar, saying that he himself is Christ a king. 

And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the 
Jews? 

And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it. 

Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, 
I find no fault in this man. 

And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up 
the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from 
Galilee to this place. When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked 
whether the man were a Galilean? And as soon as he knew 
that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to 
Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at this time. 

And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad; 
for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he 
had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen 
some miracle done by him. Then he questioned with him in 
many words; but he answered him nothing. And the chief 
priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. And 
Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked 
him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again 
to Pilate. 

And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends 


476 


together ; for before they were at enmity between themselves. 

And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests 
and the rulers and the people, said unto them, Ye have brought 
this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people; and, 
behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no 
fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse 
him. No, nor yet Herod ; for I sent you to him ; and, lo, noth- 
ing worthy of death is done unto him. I will therefore chas- 
tise him, and release him. (For of necessity he must release 
one unto them at the feast.) And they cried out all at once, 
saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas 
(who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, 
was cast into prison). Pilate therefore, willing to release 
Jesus, spake again to them. But they cried, saying, Crucify 
him, crucify him. And he said unto them the third time, 
Why, what evil hath he done ? I have found no cause of death 
in him. I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. And 
they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might 
be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests 
prevailed. And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they 
required. And he released unto them him that for sedition 
and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; 
but he delivered Jesus to their will. And as they led him 
away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out 
of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might 
bear it after Jesus. 

And there followed him a great company of people, and 
of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus 
turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not 
for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, 
behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, 
Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and 
the paps which never gave suck. Then shall they begin to say 
to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. For 
if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in 
the dry? 


477 


The Crucifixion 


And there were also two other, malefactors, led with 
him to be put to death. And when they were come to the 
place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and 
the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the 
left. 

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not 
what they do. 

And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the 
people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them de- 
rided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if 
he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked 
him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, and saying, 
If thou be the King of the Jews, save thyself. And a super- 
scription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and 
Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 

And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed 
on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But 
the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear 
God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we 
indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds; 
but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto 
Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy 
kingdom. 

And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day 
shalt thou be with me in paradise. 

And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a dark- 
ness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was 
darkened, and the vail of the temple was rent in the midst. 

And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, 
Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. And having 
said thus, he gave up the ghost. 

Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified 
God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. And all the 
people that came together to that sight, beholding the things 
which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. And all 

478 


his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Gali- 
lee, stood afar off, beholding these things. 

And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a coun- 
sellor; and he was a good man, and a just (The same had not 
consented to the counsel and deed of them.) He was of Ari- 
mathea, a city of the Jews; who also himself waited for the 
kingdom of God. This man went unto Pilate, and begged 
the body of Jesus. And he took it down, and wrapped it in 
linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, 
wherein never man before was laid. 

And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew 
on. And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, 
followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body 
was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and oint- 
ments ; and rested the sabbath day according to the command- 
ment. 

24 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the 
morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices 
which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And 
they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And 
they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 
And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, 
behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. And as 
they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, 
they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 
He is not here, but is risen. Remember how he spake unto 
you when he was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must 
be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, 
and the third day rise again. And they remembered his 
words, and returned from the sepulchre, and told all these 
things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. It was Mary Mag- 
dalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other 
women that were with them, which told these things unto the 
apostles. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and 
they believed them not. Then arose Peter, and ran unto the 
sepulchre ; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid 


The Resurrection 
and Ascension 


479 


by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that 
which was come to pass. 

And, behold, two of them went that same day to a vil- 
lage called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about three- 
score furlongs. And they talked together of all these things 
which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they 
communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, 
and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they 
should not know him. 

And he said unto them, What manner of communications 
are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad ? 

And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answer- 
ing said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and 
hast not known the things which are come to pass there in 
these days? 

And he said unto them, What things? 

And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, 
which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God 
and all the people; and how the chief priests and our rulers 
delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified 
him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have 
redeemed Israel. And beside all this, to day is the third day 
since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also 
of our company made us astonished, which were early at the 
sepulchre; and when they found not his body, they came, say- 
ing, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said 
that he was alive. And certain of them which were with us 
went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had 
said. But him they saw not. 

Then he said unto them, 0 fools, and slow of heart to 
believe all that the prophets have spoken. Ought not Christ 
to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded 
unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. 

And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went ; 

480 


and he made as though he would have gone further. But they 
constrained him, saying, Abide with us ; for it is toward even- 
ing, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with 
them. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he 
took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And 
their eyes were opened, and they knew him ; and he vanished 
out of their sight. 

And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn 
within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he 
opened to us the Scriptures? And they rose up the same 
hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gath- 
ered together, and them that were with them, saying, The 
Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they 
told what things were done in the way, and how he was known 
of them in breaking of bread. 

And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst 
of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they 
were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen 
a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? And 
why do thoughts arise in your hearts ? Behold my hands and 
my feet, that it is I myself. Handle me, and see ; for a spirit 
hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he 
had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. And 
while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said 
unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a 
piece of a broiled fish, and of a honeycomb. And he took it, 
and did eat before them. And he said unto them, These are 
the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, 
that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the 
law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, con- 
cerning me. 

Then opened he their understanding, that they might 
understand the Scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is writ- 
ten, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the 
dead the third day ; and that repentance and remission of sins 
should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning 


481 


at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, 
behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you. But tarry 
ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power 
from on high. 

And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted 
up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while 
he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up 
into heaven. 

And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem 
with great joy; and were continually in the temple, praising 
and blessing God. Amen. 


THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO 
ST. JOHN 


The Testimony of John 

(Chapter I , vs. 1 - 18 ) 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with 
God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning 
with God. All things were made by him; and without him 
was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; 
and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in 
darkness ; and the darkness comprehended it not. 

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 
The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, 
that all men through him might believe. He was not that 
Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was 
the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into 
the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by 
him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, 
and his own received him not. But as many as received him, 
to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to 
them that believe on his name ; which were born, not of blood, 
nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we 
beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the 
Father), full of grace and truth. 

John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was 
he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred 
before me; for he was before me. And of his fulness have 

483 


all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given 
by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man 
hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is 
in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. 


Jesus Comforts His Disciples 

(Chapter XIV and Chapter XV) 

14 Let not your heart be troubled ; ye believe in God, believe 
also in me. 

In my Father's house are many mansions ; if it were not 
so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, 
and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may 
be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 

Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou 
goest ; and how can we know the way ? 

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the 
life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had 
known me, ye should have known my Father also; and from 
henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 

Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it 
sufficeth us. 

Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, 
and yet hast thou not known me, Philip ? He that hath seen 
me hath seen the Father. And how sayest thou then, Shew us 
the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and 
the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak 
not of myself ; but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the 
works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father 
in me; or else believe me for the very works' sake. Verily, 
verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works 
that I do shall he do also ; and greater works than these shall 
he do ; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall 

484 


ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glori- 
fied in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will 
do it. 

If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray 
the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that 
he may abide with you for ever ; even the Spirit of truth, 
whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, 
neither knoweth him ; but ye know him, for he dwelleth with 
you, and shall be in you. 

I will not leave you comfortless ; I will come to you. Yet 
a little while, and the world seeth me no more ; but ye see me ; 
because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know 
that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that 
hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that lov- 
eth me; and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, 
and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 

Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that 
thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he 
will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we 
will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that 
loveth me not keepeth not my sayings. And the word which 
ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. These 
things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father 
will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring 
all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto 
you. 

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you ; not as 
the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be 
troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said 
unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved 
me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father; 
for my Father is greater than I. 

And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, 
when it is come to pass, ye might believe. Hereafter I will 


485 


not talk much with you ; for the prince of this world cometh, 
and hath nothing in me. But that the world may know that 
I love the Father ; and as the Father gave me commandment, 
even so I do. Arise, let us go hence. 

15 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away; 
and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it 
may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the 
word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in 
you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it 
abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I 
am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, 
and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for with- 
out me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is 
cast forth as a branch, and is withered ; and men gather them, 
and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide 
in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, 
and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, 
that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 

As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you; con- 
tinue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall 
abide in my love ; even as I have kept my Father's command- 
ments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken 
unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy 
might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one 
another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than 
this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my 
friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I 
call you not servants, for the servant knoweth not what his 
lord doeth; but I have called you friends, for all things that 
I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. 
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained 
you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your 
fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the 
Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I 
command you, that ye love one another. 


486 


If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before 
it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love 
his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have 
chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 
Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is 
not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they 
will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they 
will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto 
you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent 
me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not 
had sin; but now they have no cloak for their sin. He that 
hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among 
them the works which none other man did, they had not had 
sin ; but now have they both seen and hated both me and my 
Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be ful- 
filled that is written in their law, They hated me without a 
cause. 

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto 
you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which pro- 
ceeded from the Father, he shall testify of me. And ye also 
shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the 
beginning. 


THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 


The Preaching of Paul at Athens 

(Chapter XVII , vs. 16-3 A) 

Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was 
stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. 
Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and 
with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them 
that met with him. Then certain philosophers of the Epicur- 
eans, and of the Stoics, encountered him. And some said, 
What will this babbler say? Other some, He seemeth to be 
a setter forth of strange gods; because he preached unto 
them Jesus, and the resurrection. And they took him, and 
brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this 
new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? For thou bringest 
certain strange things to our ears ; we would know therefore 
what these things mean. (For all the Athenians, and 
strangers which were there, spent their time in nothing else, 
but either to tell or to hear some new thing.) 

Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye 
men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too super- 
stitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I 
found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN 
GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I 
unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, 
seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in 
temples made with hands ; neither is worshipped with men's 
hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to 
all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one 


488 


blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the 
earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and 
the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the 
Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though 
he be not far from every one of us. For in him we live, and 
move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets 
have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then 
as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that 
the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by 
art and man’s device. And the times of this ignorance God 
winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to re- 
pent. Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will 
judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath 
ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in 
that he hath raised him from the dead. 

And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, 
some mocked ; and others said, We will hear thee again of this 
matter. So Paul departed from among them. Howbeit cer- 
tain men clave unto him, and believed ; among the which was 
Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and 
others with them. 


Paul Before Festus and Agrippa 

(Chapter XXV and Chapter XXVI) 

25 Now when Festus was come into the province, after three 
days he ascended from Cesarea to Jerusalem. Then the high 
priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, 
and besought him, and desired favour against him, that he 
would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to 
kill him. But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at 
Cesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither. 
Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go 
down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wicked- 
ness in him. And when he had tarried among them more than 


489 


ten days, he went down unto Cesarea ; and the next day sitting 
on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought. 

And when he was come, the Jews which came down from 
Jerusalem stood round about and laid many and grievous 
complaints against Paul, which they could not prove. While 
he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, 
neither against the temple, nor yet against Cesar, have I 
offended anything at all. 

But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered 
Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be 
judged of these things before me? 

Then said Paul, I stand at Cesar's judgment seat, where 
I ought to be judged; to the Jews have I done no wrong, as 
thou very well knowest. For if I be an offender, or have 
committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die; 
but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse 
me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Cesar. 

Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, 
answered, Hast thou appealed unto Cesar? Unto Cesar shalt 
thou go. 

And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came 
unto Cesarea to salute Festus. And when they had been there 
many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, say- 
ing, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix ; about whom, 
when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of 
the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against 
him. To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the 
Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is 
accused have the accusers face to face, and have license to 
answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him. 
Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on 
the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the 
man to be brought forth. Against whom when the accusers 
stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I 
supposed ; but had certain questions against him of their own 


490 


superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, and whom 
Paul affirmed to be alive. And because I doubted of such 
manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to 
Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters. But when 
Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of 
Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him 
to Cesar. 

Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the 
man myself. 

Tomorrow, said he, thou shalt hear him. 

And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and 
Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place 
of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the 
city, at Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth. 

And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are 
here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the 
multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jeru- 
salem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any 
longer. But when I found that he had committed nothing 
worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to 
Augustus, I have determined to send him. Of whom I have no 
certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought 
him forth before you, and specially before thee, 0 king 
Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have some- 
what to write. For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a 
prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him. 
26 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to 
speak for thyself. 

Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for 
himself: I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I 
shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the 
things whereof I am accused of the Jews. Especially because 
I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which 
are among the Jews. Wherefore I beseech thee to hear me 
patiently. 


491 


My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first 
among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; 
which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, 
that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a 
Pharisee. And now I stand and am judged for the hope of 
the promise made of God unto our fathers ; unto which prom- 
ise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, 
hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am 
accused for the Jews. 

Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, 
that God should raise the dead ? I verily thought with myself, 
that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus 
of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem. And 
many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received 
authority from the chief priests; and when they were put 
to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them 
oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; 
and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them 
even unto strange cities. 

Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and 
commission from the chief priests, at midday, 0 king, I saw in 
the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, 
shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. 
And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice 
speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, 
Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick 
against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And 
he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and 
stand upon thy feet. For I have appeared unto thee for 
this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of 
these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in 
the which I will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the 
people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 
to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, 
and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive 


492 


forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are 
sanctified by faith that is in me. 

Whereupon, 0 king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto 
the heavenly vision ; but shewed first unto them of Damascus 
and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, 
and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn 
to God, and do works meet for repentance. For these causes 
the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me. 
Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this 
day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other 
things than those which the prophets and Moses did say 
should come ; that Christ should suffer, and that he should be 
the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew 
light unto the people, and to the Gentiles. 

And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a 
loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself ; much learning doth 
make thee mad. 

But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus ; but speak 
forth the words of truth and soberness. For the king knoweth 
of these things, before whom also I speak freely; for I am 
persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; 
for this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, 
believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. 

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest 
me to be a Christian. 

And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but 
also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and alto- 
gether such as I am, except these bonds. 

And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the 
governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them. And 
when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, 
saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds. 
Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been 
set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Cesar. 


THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE 
TO THE ROMANS 


Exhortation to the Romans 

(Chapter XII— Chapter XIV) 

12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of 
God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, accept- 
able unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not 
conformed to this world ; but be ye transformed by the renew- 
ing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and 
acceptable, and perfect will of God. For I say, through the 
grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not 
to think of himself more highly than he ought to think ; but 
to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man 
the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one 
body, and all members have not the same office; so we being 
many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of 
another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace 
that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy accord- 
ing to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on 
our ministering ; or he that teacheth, on teaching ; or he that 
exhorteth, on exhortation; he that giveth, let him do it with 
simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth 
mercy, with cheerfulness. 

Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is 
evil ; cleave to that which is good. 

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly 
love; in honour preferring one another; not slothful in busi- 
ness; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; 

494 


patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; distrib- 
uting to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 

Bless them which persecute you ; bless, and curse not. 

Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them 
that weep. 

Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high 
things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in 
your own conceits. 

Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things 
honest in the sight of all men. 

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably 
with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but 
rather give place unto wrath ; for it is written, Vengeance is 
mine ; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy 
hunger, feed him ; if he thirst, give him drink ; for in so doing 
thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of 
evil, but overcome evil with good. 

13 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For 
there is no power but of God ; the powers that be are ordained 
of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth 
the ordinance of God; and they that resist shall receive to 
themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good 
works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the 
power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise 
of the same, for he is the minister of God to thee for good. 
But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth 
not the sword in vain; for he is the minister of God, a 
revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Where- 
fore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also 
for conscience's sake. For, for this cause pay ye tribute 
also : for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon 
this very thing. 

Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom 
tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; 
honour to whom honour. Owe no man any thing, but to 


495 


love one another ; for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the 
law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not 
kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 
Thou shalt not covet ; and if there be any other commandment, 
it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt 
love thy neighbour as thyself. 

Love worketh no ill to his neighbour; therefore love is 
the fulfilling of the law. 

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to 
awake out of sleep ; for now is our salvation nearer than when 
we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let 
us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put 
on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day ; 
not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wan- 
tonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord 
Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil 
the lusts thereof. 

14 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubt- 
ful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things ; 
another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth 
despise him that eateth not ; and let not him which eateth not 
judge him that eateth; for God hath received him. Who art 
thou that judgest another man’s servant? To his own master 
he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up; for God 
is able to make him stand. 

One man esteemeth one day above another; another 
esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded 
in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto 
the Lord ; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he 
doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he 
giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he 
eateth not, and giveth God thanks. For none of us liveth to 
himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, 
we live unto the Lord, and whether we die, we die unto the 
Lord; whether we live therefore or die, we are the Lord’s. 


496 


For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that 
he might be Lord both of the dead and living. 

But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou 
set at nought thy brother? For we shall all stand before the 
judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith 
the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall 
confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of 
himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any 
more; but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling- 
block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. 

I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there 
is nothing unclean of itself; but to him that esteemeth any 
thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother 
be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. 
Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. Let 
not then your good be evil spoken of; for the kingdom of 
God is not meat and drink ; but righteousness and peace, and 
joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth 
Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us 
therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and 
things wherewith one may edify another. For meat destroy 
not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is 
evil for that man who eateth with offence. It is good neither 
to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy 
brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. Hast 
thou faith ? Have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that 
condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. 
And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth 
not of faith; for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. 


THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL THE 
APOSTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 


Praise of Charity 

(Chapter XIII) 

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, 
and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a 
tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, 
and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though 
I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have 
not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods 
to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, 
and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 

Charity suffereth long, and is kind ; charity envieth not ; 
charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave 
itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, 
thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the 
truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all 
things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth : but whether 
there be prophecies, they shall fail ; whether there be tongues, 
they shall cease ; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish 
away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But 
when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part 
shall be done away. 

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a 
child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put 
away childish things. For now we see through a glass, 


498 


darkly; but then face to face. Now I know in part; but then 
shall I know even as also I am known. 

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but 
the greatest of these is charity. 


The Resurrection of the Dead 

(Chapter XV) 

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which 
I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein 
ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if .ye keep in memory 
what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also re- 
ceived, how that Christ died for our sins according to the 
Scriptures ; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the 
third day according to the Scriptures ; and that he was seen 
of Cephas, then of the twelve. After that, he was seen of 
above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater 
part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 
After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 
And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of 
due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not 
meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church 
of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am. And his 
grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I 
laboured more abundantly than they all; yet not I, but the 
grace of God which was with me. Therefore whether it 
were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed. 

Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, 
how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the 
dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is 
Christ not risen ; and if Christ be not risen, then is our preach- 
ing vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found 
false witnesses of God ; because we have testified of God that 


499 


he raised up Christ ; whom he raised not up, if so be that the 
dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ 
raised. And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain ; ye are 
yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in 
Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in 
Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the 
firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, 
by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in 
Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But 
every man in his own order; Christ the firstfruits; after- 
ward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the 
end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, 
even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule, and 
all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put 
all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be 
destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his 
feet. But when he saith, All things are put under him, it 
is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things 
under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, 
then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put 
all things under him, that God may be all in all. Else what 
shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead 
rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead? 
And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? I protest by 
your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die 
daily. If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts 
at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? 
Let us eat and drink ; for to morrow we die. 

Be not deceived ; evil communications corrupt good man- 
ners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have 
not the knowledge of God ; I speak this to your shame. 

But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? 
And with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which 
thou sowest is not quickened, except it die. And that which 
thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare 


500 


grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain; but 
God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed 
his own body. All flesh is not the same flesh; but there is 
one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of 
fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, 
and bodies terrestrial ; but the glory of the celestial is one, and 
the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory 
of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory 
of the stars ; for one star differeth from another star in glory. 
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corrup- 
tion, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonour, it 
is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in 
power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual 
body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 
And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living 
soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. How- 
beit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is 
natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first 
man is of the earth, earthy ; the second man is the Lord from 
heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy ; 
and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 
And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also 
bear the image of the heavenly. 

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot 
inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit 
incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery. We shall not 
all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the 
twinkling of an eye, at the last trump ; for the trumpet shall 
sound ; and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall 
be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, 
and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this cor- 
ruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall 
have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the 
saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 

0 death, where is thy sting? 0 grave, where is thy 
victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin 

501 


is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory 
through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved breth- 
ren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the 
work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is 
not in vain in the Lord. 


THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL THE 
APOSTLE TO TIMOTHY 


Letter from Paul to Timothy 

(Chapter I — Chapter IV) 

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, 
according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, to 
Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, 
from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 

I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with 
pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance 
of thee in my prayers night and day ; greatly desiring to see 
thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with 
joy; when I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that 
is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and 
thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. 

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance, that thou stir up 
the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. 
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, 
and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore 
ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner ; 
but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according 
to the power of God ; who hath saved us and called us with a 
holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his 
own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus 
before the world began; but is now made manifest by the 
appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished 
death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through 
the gospel; whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an 


503 


apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For the which cause 

1 also suffer these things. Nevertheless I am not ashamed; 
for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he 
is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against 
that day. 

Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast 
heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That 
good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy 
Ghost which dwelleth in us. 

This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia 
be turned away from me ; of whom are Phygellus and 
Hermogenes. 

The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; 
for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; 
but, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently 
and found me. The Lord grant unto him that he may find 
mercy of the Lord in that day. And in how many things 
he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well. 

2 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is 
in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me 
among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful 
men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore 
endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man 
that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life ; 
that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 
And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, 
except he strive lawfully. The husbandman that laboureth 
must be first partaker of the fruits. 

Consider what I say ; and the Lord give thee understand- 
ing in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed 
of David was raised from the dead, according to my gospel ; 
wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil door, even unto bonds; 
but the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure all 
things for the elect’s sake, that they may also obtain the salva- 
tion which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. It is a faith- 
ful saying : for if we be dead with him, we shall also live 


504 


with him; if we suffer, we shall also reign with him; if we 
deny him, he also will deny us; if we believe not, yet he 
abideth faithful; he cannot deny himself. Of these things 
put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord 
that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the sub- 
verting of the hearers. 

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman 
that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of 
truth. But shun profane and vain babblings; for they will 
increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat 
as doth a canker; of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus; who 
concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection 
is past already ; and overthrow the faith of some. Neverthe- 
less the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The 
Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that 
nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a 
great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, 
but also of wood and of earth ; and some to honour, and some 
to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, 
he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the 
master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. 

Flee also youthful lusts; but follow righteousness, faith, 
charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure 
heart. But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing 
that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord 
must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, 
patient; in meekness instructing those that oppose them- 
selves ; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the 
acknowledging of the truth ; and that they may recover them- 
selves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive 
by him at his will. 

3 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall 
come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, 
boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, un- 
thankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, 
false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are 


505 


good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more 
than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying 
the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort 
are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women 
laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, 
and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now 
as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also 
resist the truth ; men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning 
the faith. But they shall proceed no further ; for their folly 
shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. 

But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, 
purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, persecutions, 
afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at 
Lystra ; what persecutions I endured. But out of them all the 
Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ 
Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers 
shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 

But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned 
and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned 
them ; and that from a child thou hast known the holy Scrip- 
ture's, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through 
faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by 
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, 
for correction, for instruction in righteousness ; that the man 
of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good 
works. 

4 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus 
Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appear- 
ing and his kingdom : Preach the word, be instant in season, 
out of season ; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering 
and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not 
endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they 
heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they 
shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned 
unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, 
do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 


506 


For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my 
departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have 
finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there 
is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, 
the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me 
only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 

Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me. For Demas 
hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is 
departed unto Thessalonica ; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto 
Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring 
him with thee; for he is profitable to me for the ministry. 
And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. The cloak that I left 
at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, 
and the books, but especially the parchments. 

Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil. The Lord 
reward him according to his works. Of whom be thou ware 
also; for he hath greatly withstood our words. 

At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men 
forsook me. I pray God that it may not be laid to their 
charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and 
strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully 
known, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was de- 
livered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord shall 
deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto 
his heavenly kingdom. To whom be glory for ever and ever. 
Amen. 

Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of One- 
siphorus. 

Erastus abode at Corinth ; but Trophimus have I left at 
Miletum sick. 

Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus 
greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all 
the brethren. 

The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be 
with you. Amen. 


507 


PHILEMON 


Of the Thirteen Letters or Epistles which are commonly attributed 
to Paul, the letter to Philemon stands out as the most personal and the 
most human. Nine of Paul’s Letters were addressed to churches or con- 
gregations; four, to individuals. Of the latter, three (1 and 2 Timothy 
and Titus) are of a pastoral character and are therefore of interest to 
the churches as well as to the individuals addressed; the fourth letter 
(Philemon) is a business-friendly letter written for the eye only of the 
recipient. This little letter was written in the spirit of Christian friend- 
ship; it is conversational in style; it reflects the deep feeling and the 
affectionate interest of the great apostle in his work and in his fellow 
workers. 


A Letter from Paul to Philemon 

Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our 
brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow 
labourer, and to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow 
soldier, and to the church in thy house: Grace to you, and 
peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my 
prayers, hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward 
the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints ; that the communication 
of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of 
every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. For we 
have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the 
bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother. Where- 
fore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee 
that which is convenient, yet for love’s sake I rather beseech 


508 


thee, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also a 
prisoner of Jesus Christ. I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, 
whom I have begotten in my bonds; which in time past was 
to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me; 
whom I have sent again. Thou therefore receive him, that is, 
mine own bowels ; whom I would have retained with me, that 
in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds 
of the gospel. But without thy mind would I do nothing; 
that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but 
willingly. For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, 
that thou shouldest receive him for ever; not now as a 
servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to 
me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in 
the Lord? If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him 
as myself. If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee aught, put 
that on mine account. I Paul have written it with mine own 
hand, I will repay it. Albeit I do not say to thee how thou 
owest unto me even thine own self besides. 

Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord ; refresh 
my bowels in the Lord. Having confidence in thy obedience 
I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than 
I say. But withal prepare me also a lodging; for I trust 
that through your prayers I shall be given unto you. 

There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ 
Jesus; Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow 
labourers. 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. 
Amen. 


THE REVELATION OF ST. JOHN 
THE DIVINE 


The following selections from Revelation illustrate the nature of a 
kind of writing which reaches its apogee of effectiveness in this book. 
Apocalypses or visions or revelations were a favorite form of religious 
literature in the second half of the first century A. D. Indeed, this 
literary genre persisted throughout the middle ages, its influence extend- 
ing in Western Europe into secular literature, as witness, for example, 
Dante’s Divine Comedy and also the many “love-visions” of Romance 
and Germanic languages. The purpose of this book of visions, the 
authorship of which is commonly ascribed to St. John, was to strengthen 
the faith of Christians by the assurance of early deliverance from their 
persecutions and oppressions and of permanent happiness in another 
world. The meaning of Revelation is only to be found, if at all, after 
much study. For an extremely interesting interpretation the reader may 
be directed to Moulton’s “The Bible at a Single View”; and for a com- 
plete informative study, to the Century Bible “Revelation.” 


Christ Appears to John in a Vision 

(Chapter /, vs. 9-19) 

I John, who also am your brother, and companion in 
tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, 
was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, 
and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit 
on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a 
trumpet, saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the 
last ; and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto 
the seven churches which are in Asia ; unto Ephesus, and unto 


510 


Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto 
Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. 

And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And 
being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; and in the 
midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, 
clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the 
paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white 
like wool, as white as snow ; and his eyes were as a flame of 
fire ; and his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a 
furnace ; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he 
had in his right hand seven stars; and out of his mouth went 
a sharp two-edged sword ; and his countenance was as the sun 
shineth in his strength. 

And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he 
laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am 
the first and the last. I am he that liveth, and was dead; 
and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the 
keys of hell and of death. Write the things which thou hast 
seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall 
be hereafter. 


The Six Seals 

(Chapter VI) 

And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and 
I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four The Four 
beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white Hors « s 
horse. And he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown 
was given unto him. And he went forth conquering, and 
to conquer. 

And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the 
second beast say, Come and see. And there went out another 
horse that was red. And power was given to him that sat 
thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should 
kill one another ; and there was given unto him a great sword. 


511 


And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the 
third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black 
horse. And he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his 
hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts 
say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures 
of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the 
wine. 

And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the 
voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, 
and behold a pale horse. And his name that sat on him was 
Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given 
unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with 
sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts 
of the earth. 

And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the 
altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, 
and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with 
a loud voice, saying, How long, 0 Lord, holy and true, dost 
thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on 
the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of 
them. And it was said unto them, that they should rest yet 
for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their 
brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be 
fulfilled. 

And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, 
lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black 
as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood. And the 
stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth 
her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. 
And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together ; 
and every mountain and island were moved out of their 
places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and 
the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and 
every bond man, and every free man, hid themselves in the 
dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the 


512 


mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face 
of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the 
Lamb. For the great day of his wrath is come; and who 
shall be able to stand? 


The Resurrection and the New Jerusalem 

(Chapter XX— Chapter XXII) 

20 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the 
key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And 
he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the 
Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast 
him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal 
upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till 
the thousand years should be fulfilled ; and after that he must 
be loosed a little season. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon 
them, and judgment was given unto them. And I saw the 
souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, 
and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the 
beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon 
their foreheads, or in their hands ; and they lived and reigned 
with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived 
not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the 
first resurrection. 

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resur- 
rection; on such the second death hath no power, but they 
shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with 
him a thousand years. And when the thousand years are 
expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go 
out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of 
the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle ; 
the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went 
up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of 
the saints about, and the beloved city; and fire came down 
from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil 


The First and the 
Second Resurrec- 
tion 


513 


The New 
Jerusalem 


that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brim- 
stone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall 
be tormented day and night for ever and ever. And I saw 
a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose 
face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found 
no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand 
before God. And the books were opened. And another book 
was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were 
judged out of those things which were written in the books, 
according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which 
were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which 
were in them; and they were judged every man according 
to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake 
of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not 
found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of 
fire. 

21 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first 
heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was 
no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, 
coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride 
adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out 
of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, 
and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, 
and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And 
God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there 
shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither 
shall there be any more pain; for the former things are 
passed away. 

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all 
things new. And he said unto me, Write; for these words 
are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I 
am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give 
unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life 
freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I 
will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, 
and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and 


514 


whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, 
shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and 
brimstone; which is the second death. 

And there came unto me one of the seven angels which 
had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked 
with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, 
the Lamb's wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to 
a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, 
the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 
having the glory of God ; and her light was like unto a stone 
most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; and 
had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the 
gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the 
names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: on the 
east three gates ; on the north three gates ; on the south three 
gates ; and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city 
had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve 
apostles of the Lamb. And he that talked with me had a 
golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and 
the wall thereof. And the city lieth foursquare, and the 
length is as large as the breadth; and he measured the city 
with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and 
the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured 
the wall thereof, a hundred and forty and four cubits, accord- 
ing to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. And the 
building of the wall of it was of jasper; and the city was 
pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the 
wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious 
stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; 
the third, chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; the fifth, sar- 
donyx ; the sixth, sardius ; the seventh, chrysolite ; the eighth, 
beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus ; the 
eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. And the twelve 
gates were twelve pearls ; every several gate was of one pearl. 
And the street of the city was pure gold, as it were trans- 
parent glass. 


515 


The Tree of 
Life 


And I saw no temple therein ; for the Lord God Almighty 
and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need 
of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory 
of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And 
the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light 
of it; and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and 
honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all 
by day; for there shall be no night there. And they shall 
bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there 
shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither 
whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie; but they 
which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. 

22 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear 
as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the 
Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of 
the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner 
of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month; and the leaves 
of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there 
shall be no more curse; but the throne of God and of the 
Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him; and 
they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their fore- 
heads. And there shall be no night there; and they need 
no candle, neither light of the sun ; for the Lord God giveth 
them light; and they shall reign for ever and ever. 

And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and 
true; and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel 
to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be 
done. Behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he that keepeth 
the sayings of the prophecy of this book. 

And I John saw these things, and heard them. And 
when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before 
the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. 

Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not. For I am 
thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and 
of them which keep the sayings of this book. Worship God. 


516 


And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the 
prophecy of this book; for the time is at hand. He that is 
unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let 
him be filthy still ; and he that is righteous, let him be right- 
eous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, 
behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give 
every man according as his work shall be. 

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the 
first and the last. Blessed are they that do his command- 
ments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may 
enter in through the gates into the city. For without are 
dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and 
idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. 

I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these 
things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of 
David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit 
and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, 
Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever 
will, let him take the water of life freely. 

For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of 
the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these 
things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written 
in this book ; and if any man shall take away from the words 
of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part 
out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the 
things which are written in this book. 

He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come 
quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. 
Amen. 


THE APOCRYPHA 


Judith 

(Chapter VIII, vs. U to Chapter XIII) 

8 So Judith was a widow in her house three years and four months. 
And she made her a tent upon the top of her house, and put on sack- 
cloth upon her loins, and ware her widow’s apparel. And she fasted all 
the days of her widowhood, save the eves of the sabbaths, and the sab- 
baths, and the eves of the new moons, and the new moons, and the feasts 
and solemn days of the house of Israel. She was also of a goodly counten- 
ance, and very beautiful to behold. And her husband Manasses had left 
her gold, and silver, and menservants, and maidservants, and cattle, and 
lands; and she remained upon them. And there was none that gave her 
an ill word; for she feared God greatly. 

Now when she heard the evil words of the people against the gov- 
ernor, that they fainted for lack of water; for Judith had heard all the 
words that Ozias had spoken unto them, and that he had sworn to deliver 
the city unto the Assyrians after five days; then she sent her waiting- 
woman, that had the government of all things that she had, to call Ozias 
and Chabris and Charmis, the ancients of the city. 

And they came unto her, and she said unto them, Hear me now, 
0 ye governors of the inhabitants of Bethulia: for your words that ye 
have spoken before the people this day are not right, touching this oath 
which ye made and pronounced between God and you, and have promised 
to deliver the city to our enemies, unless within these days the Lord 
turn to help you. And now who are ye that have tempted God this day, 
and stand instead of God among the children of men? And now try the 
Lord Almighty, but ye shall never know anything. For ye cannot find 
the depth of the heart of man, neither can ye perceive the things that 
he thinketh. Then how can ye search out God, that hath made all these 
things, and know his mind, or comprehend his purpose ? Nay, my breth- 
ren, provoke not the Lord our God to anger. For if he will not help us 
within these five days, he hath power to defend us when he will, even 


519 


every day, or to destroy us before our enemies. Do not bind the coun- 
sels of the Lord our God: for God is not as man that he may be threat- 
ened; neither is he as the son of man, that he should be wavering. There- 
fore let us wait for salvation of him, and call upon him to help us, and 
he will hear our voice, if it please him. For there arose none in our age, 
neither is there any now in these days, neither tribe, nor family, nor 
people, nor city, among us, which worship gods made with hands, as 
hath been aforetime. For the which cause our fathers were given to 
the sword, and for a spoil, and had a great fall before our enemies. But 
we know none other God, therefore we trust that he will not despise us, 
nor any of our nation. For if we be taken so, all Judea shall lie waste, 
and our sanctuary shall be spoiled; and he will require the profanation 
thereof at our mouth. And the slaughter of our brethren, and the cap* 
tivity of our country, and the desolation of our inheritance, will he turn 
upon our heads among the Gentiles, wheresoever we shall be in bondage; 
and we shall be an offence and a reproach to all them that possess us. 
For our servitude shall not be directed to favour; but the Lord our God 
shall turn it to dishonour. Now therefore, 0 brethren, let us shew an 
example to our brethren, because their hearts depend upon us, and the 
sanctuary, and the house, and the altar, rest upon us. Moreover let us 
give thanks to the Lord our God, which trieth us, even as he did our 
fathers. Remember what things he did to Abraham, and how he tried 
Isaac, and what happened to Jacob in Mesopotamia of Syria, when he 
kept the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother. For he hath not tried us 
in the fire, as he did them, for the examination of their hearts, neither 
hath he taken vengeance on us. But the Lord doth scourge them that 
come near unto him, to admonish them. 

Then said Ozias to her, All that thou hast spoken hast thou spoken 
with a good heart, and there is none that may gainsay thy words. For 
this is not the first day wherein thy wisdom is manifested; but from 
the beginning of thy days all the people have known thy understanding, 
because the disposition of thy heart is good. But the people were very 
thirsty, and compelled us to do unto them as we have spoken, and to 
bring an oath upon ourselves, which we will not break. Therefore now 
pray thou for us, because thou art a godly woman, and the Lord will 
send us rain to fill our cisterns, and we shall faint no more. 

Then said Judith unto them, Hear me, and I will do a thing, which 
shall go throughout all generations to the children of our nation. Ye 
shall stand this night in the gate, and I will go forth with my waiting- 
woman: and within the days that ye have promised to deliver the city 


520 


to our enemies the Lord will visit Israel by mine hand. But enquire not 
ye of mine act: for I will not declare it unto you, till the things be 
finished that I do. 

Then said Ozias and the princes unto her, Go in peace, and the Lord 
God be before thee, to take vengeance on our enemies. So they returned 
from the tent, and went to their wards. 

9 Then Judith fell upon her face, and put ashes upon her head, and 
uncovered the sackcloth wherewith she was clothed; and about the time 
that the incense of that evening was offered in Jerusalem in the house 
of the Lord, Judith cried with a loud voice, and said, O Lord God of my 
father Simeon, to whom thou gavest a sword to take vengeance of the 
strangers, who loosened the girdle of a maid to defile her, and discovered 
the thigh to her shame, and polluted her virginity to her reproach; for 
thou saidst, It shall not be so; and yet they did so: wherefore thou 
gavest their rulers to be slain, so that they dyed their bed in blood, being 
deceived, and smotest the servants with their lords, and the lords upon 
their thrones; and hast given their wives for a prey, and their daughters 
to be captives, and all their spoils to be divided among thy dear children; 
which were moved with thy zeal, and abhorred the pollution of their 
blood, and called upon thee for aid: 0 God, 0 my God, hear me also a 
widow. 

For thou hast wrought not only those things, but also the things 
which fell out before, and which ensued after; thou hast thought upon 
the things which are now, and which are to come. Yea, what things 
thou didst determine were ready at hand, and said, Lo, we are here: for 
all thy ways are prepared, and thy judgments are in thy foreknowledge. 
For, behold, the Assyrians are multiplied in their power; they are exalted 
with horse and man; they glory in the strength of their footmen; they 
trust in shield, and spear, and bow, and sling; and know not that thou 
art the Lord that breakest the battles: the Lord is thy name. Throw 
down their strength in thy power, and bring down their force in thy 
wrath: for they have purposed to defile thy sanctuary, and to pollute 
the tabernacle where thy glorious name resteth, and to cast down with 
sword the horn on thy altar. Behold their pride, and send thy wrath 
upon their heads: give into mine hand, which am a widow, the power 
that I have conceived. Smite by the deceit of my lips the servant with 
the prince, and the prince with the servant: break down their stateliness 
by the hand of a woman. For thy power standeth not in multitude, nor 
thy might in strong men: for thou art a God of the afflicted, an helper 


521 


of the oppressed, an upholder of the weak, a protector of the forlorn, a 
saviour of them that art without hope. 

I pray thee, I pray thee, 0 God of my father, and God of the inheri- 
tance of Israel, Lord of the heavens and earth, Creator of the waters, 
King: of every creature, hear thou my prayer: and make my speech and 
deceit to be their wound and stripe, who have purposed cruel things 
against thy covenant, and thy hallowed house, and against the top of 
Sion, and against the house of the possession of thy children. And 
make every nation and tribe to acknowledge that thou art the God of all 
power and might, and that there is none other that protecteth the people 
of Israel but thou. 

10 Now after that she had ceased to cry unto the God of Israel, and 
had made an end of all these words, she rose where she had fallen down, 
and called her maid, and went down into the house, in the which she 
abode in the sabbath days, and in her feast days, and pulled off the 
sackcloth which she had on, and put off the garments of her widowhood, 
and washed her body all over with water, and anointed herself with 
precious ointment, and braided the hair of her head, and put on a tire 
upon it, and put on her garments of gladness, wherewith she was clad 
during the life of Manasses her husband. And she took sandals upon 
her feet, and put about her her bracelets, and her chains, and her rings, 
and her earrings, and all her ornaments, and decked herself bravely to 
allure the eyes of all men that should see her. Then she gave her maid 
a bottle of wine, and a cruse of oil, and filled a bag with parched corn, 
and lumps of figs, and with fine bread; so she folded all these things 
together, and laid them upon her. Thus they went forth to the gate of 
the city of Bethulia, and found standing there Ozias, and the ancients 
of the city, Chabris and Charmis. 

And when they saw her, that her countenance was altered, and her 
apparel was changed, they wondered at her beauty very greatly, and 
said unto her, The God, the God of our fathers, give thee favour, and 
accomplish thine enterprizes to the glory of the children of Israel, and 
to the exaltation of Jerusalem. 

Then they worshipped God. 

And she said unto them, Command the gates of the city to be opened 
unto me, that I may go forth to accomplish the things, whereof ye have 
spoken with me. 

So they commanded the young men to open unto her, as she had 
spoken. 


522 


And when they had done so, Judith went out, she, and her maid with 
her; and the men of the city looked after her, until she was gone down 
the mountain, and till she had passed the valley, and could see her no 
more. 

Thus they went straight forth in the valley: and the first watch of 
the Assyrians met her, and took her, and asked her, Of what people art 
thou? And whence comest thou? And whither goest thou? 

And she said, I am a woman of the Hebrews, and am fled from 
them: for they shall be given you to be consumed: And I am coming 
before Holofernes the chief captain of your army, to declare words of 
truth; and I will shew him a way, whereby he shall go, and win all the 
hill country, without losing the body or life of any one of his men. 

Now when the men heard her words, and beheld her countenance, 
they wondered greatly at her beauty, and said unto her, Thou hast saved 
thy life, in that thou hast hasted to come down to the presence of our 
lord: now therefore come to his tent, and some of us shall conduct thee, 
until they have delivered thee to his hands. And when thou standest 
before him, be not afraid in thine heart, but show unto him according 
to thy word; and he will entreat thee well. 

Then they chose out of them an hundred men to accompany her and 
her maid; and they brought her to the tent of Holofernes. Then was 
there a concourse throughout all the camp: for her coming was noised 
among the tents, and they came about her, as she stood without the tent 
of Holofernes, till they told him of her. And they wondered at her 
beauty, and admired the children of Israel because of her, and every one 
said to his neighbour, Who would despise this people, that have among 
them such women? Surely it is not good that one man of them be left, 
who being let go might deceive the whole earth. And they that lay 
near Holofernes went out, and all his servants, and they brought her 
into the tent. 

Now Holofernes rested upon his bed under a canopy, which was 
woven with purple, and gold, and emeralds, and precious stones. So 
they shewed him of her; and he came out before his tent with silver 
lamps going before him. And when Judith was come before him and 
his servants, they all marvelled at the beauty of her countenance; and 
she fell down upon her face, and did reverence unto him; and his ser- 
vants took her up. 

11 Then said Holofernes unto her, Woman, be of good comfort, fear 


523 


not in thine heart; for I never hurt any that was willing to serve 
Nabuchodonosor, the king of all the earth. Now therefore, if thy people 
that dwelleth in the mountains had not set light by me, I would not 
have lifted up my spear against them; but they have done these things to 
themselves. But now tell me wherefore thou art fled from them, and 
art come unto us: for thou art come for safeguard; be of good com- 
fort, thou shalt live this night and hereafter: for none shall hurt thee, 
but entreat thee well, as they do the servants of king Nebuchodonosor 
my lord. 

Then Judith said unto him, Receive the words of thy servant, and 
suffer thine handmaid to speak in thy presence, and I will declare no 
lie to my lord this night. And if thou wilt follow the words of thy 
handmaid, God will bring the thing perfectly to pass by thee; and my 
lord shall not fail of his purposes. As Nabuchodonosor king of all the 
earth liveth, and as his power liveth, who hath sent thee for the uphold- 
ing of every living thing: for not only men shall serve him by thee, but 
also the beasts of the field, and the cattle, and the fowls of the air, shall 
live by thy power under Nabuchodonosor and all his house. For we 
have heard of thy wisdom and thy policies, and it is reported in all the 
earth, that thou only art excellent in all the kingdom, and mighty in 
knowledge, and wonderful in feats of war. 

Now as concerning the matter, which Achior did speak in thy coun- 
cil, we have heard his words; for the men of Bethulia saved him, and 
he declared unto them all that he had spoken unto thee. Therefore, 0 
lord and governor, reject not his word; but lay it up in thine heart, for 
it is true: for our nation shall not be punished, neither can the sword 
prevail against them, except they sin against their God. And now, that 
my lord be not defeated and frustrate of his purpose, even death is now 
fallen unto them, and their sin hath overtaken them, wherewith they 
will provoke their God to anger, whensoever they shall do that which is 
not fit to be done. For their victuals fail them, and all their water is 
scant, and they have determined to lay hands upon their cattle, and pur- 
posed to consume all those things, that God hath forbidden them to eat 
by his laws; and are resolved to spend the first fruits of the com, and 
the tenth of wine and oil, which they have sanctified, and reserved for 
the priests that serve in Jerusalem before the face of our God; the 
which things it is not lawful for any of the people so much as to touch 
with their hands. For they have sent some to Jerusalem, because they 
also that dwell there have done the like, to bring them a licence from 


524 


the senate. Now when they shall bring them word, they will forthwith 
do it, for they shall be given thee to be destroyed the same day. 

Wherefore I thine handmaid, knowing all this, am fled from their 
presence; and God hath sent me to work things with thee, whereat all 
the earth shall be astonished, and whosoever shall hear it. For thy 
servant is religious, and serveth the God of heaven day and night. Now 
therefore, my lord, I will remain with thee, and thy servants will go out 
by night into the valley, and I will pray unto God, and he will tell me 
when they have committed their sins. And I will come and shew it unto 
thee. Then thou shalt go forth with all thine army, and there shall be 
none of them that shall resist thee. And I will lead thee through the 
midst of Judea, until thou come before Jerusalem; and I will set thy 
throne in the midst thereof; and thou shalt drive them as sheep that 
have no shepherd, and a dog shall not so much as open their mouth at 
thee. For these things were told me according to my foreknowledge, 
and they were declared unto me, and I am sent to tell thee. 

Then her words pleased Holofernes and all his servants; and they 
marvelled at her wisdom, and said, There is not such a woman from 
one end of the earth to the other, both for beauty of face, and wisdom 
of words. 

Likewise Holofernes said unto her, God hath done well to send thee 
before the people, that strength might be in our hands, and destruction 
upon them that lightly regard my lord. And now thou art both beautiful 
in thy countenance, and witty in thy words. Surely if thou do as thou 
hast spoken, thy God shall be my God, and thou shalt dwell in the house 
of king Nabuchodonosor, and shalt be renowned through the whole earth. 

12 Then he commanded to bring her in where his plate was set; and 
bade that they should prepare for her of his own meats, and that she 
should drink of his own wine. 

And Judith said, I will not eat thereof, lest there be an offence; 
but provision shall be made for me of the things that I have brought. 

Then Holofernes said unto her, If thy provision should fail, how 
should we give thee the like? For there be none with us of thy nation. 

Then said Judith unto him, As thy soul liveth, my lord, thine hand- 
maid shall not spend those things that I have, before the Lord work by 
mine hand the things that he hath determined. 

Then the servants of Holofernes brought her into the tent, and she 
slept till midnight, and she arose when it was toward the morning watch, 


525 


and sent to Holofernes, saying, Let my lord now command that thine 
handmaid may go forth unto prayer. 

Then Holofernes commanded his guard that they should not stay 
her. Thus she abode in the camp three days, and went out in the night 
into the valley of Bethulia, and washed herself in a fountain of water 
by the camp. And when she came out, she besought the Lord God of 
Israel to direct her way to the raising up of the children of her people. 
So she came in clean, and remained in the tent, until she did eat her 
meat at evening. 

And in the fourth day Holofernes made a feast to his own servants 
only, and called none of the officers to the banquet. Then said he to 
Bagaos the eunuch, who had charge over all that he had, Go now, and 
persuade this Hebrew woman which is with thee, that she come unto us, 
and eat and drink with us. For, lo, it will be a shame for our person, 
if we shall let such a woman go, not having had her company; for if we 
draw her not unto us, she will laugh us to scorn. 

Then went Bagaos from the presence of Holofernes, and came to 
her, and he said, Let not this fair damsel fear to come to my lord, and 
to be honoured in his presence, and drink wine, and be merry with us, 
and be made this day as one of the daughters of the Assyrians, which 
serve in the house of Nabuchodonosor. 

Then said Judith unto him, Who am I now, that I should gainsay 
my lord? Surely whatsoever pleaseth him I will do speedily, and it 
shall be my joy unto the day of my death. So she arose, and decked 
herself with her apparel and all her woman’s attire, and her maid went 
and laid soft skins on the ground for her over against Holofernes, which 
she had received of Bagaos for her daily use, that she might sit and 
eat upon them. 

Now when Judith came in and sat down, Holofernes his heart was 
ravished with her, and his mind was moved, and he desired greatly her 
company; for he waited a time to deceive her, from the day that he 
had seen her. Then said Holofernes unto her, Drink now, and be merry 
with us. 

So Judith said, I will drink now, my lord, because my life is mag- 
nified in me this day more than all the days since I was born. Then she 
took and ate and drank before him what her maid had prepared. 

And Holofernes took great delight in her, and drank much more 
wine than he had drunk at any time in one day since he was born. 

13 Now when the evening was come, his servants made haste to depart, 


526 


and Bagaos shut his tent without, and dismissed the waiters from the 
presence of his lord; and they went to their beds, for they were all 
weary, because the feast had been long. And Judith was left alone in 
the tent, and Holof ernes lying along upon his bed: for he was filled with 
wine. Now Judith had commanded her maid to stand without her bed- 
chamber, and to wait for her coming forth, as she did daily: for she 
said she would go forth to her prayers, and she spake to Bagaos accord- 
ing to the same purpose. So all went forth, and none was left in the 
bedchamber, neither little nor great. 

Then Judith, standing by his bed, said in her heart, 0 Lord God of 
all power, look at this present upon the works of mine hands for the 
exaltation of Jerusalem. For now is the time to help thine inheritance, 
and to execute mine enterprizes to the destruction of the enemies which 
are risen against us. Then she came to the pillar of the bed, which was 
at Holofemes' head, and took down his fauchion from thence, and 
approached to his bed, and took hold of the hair of his head, and said, 
Strengthen me, O Lord God of Israel, this day. And she smote twice 
upon his neck with all her might, and she took away his head from him, 
and tumbled his body down from the bed, and pulled down the canopy 
from the pillars; and anon after she went forth, and gave Holof ernes 
his head to her maid; and she put it in her bag of meat. 

So they twain went together according to their custom unto prayer. 
And when they passed the camp, they compassed the valley, and went 
up the mountain of Bethulia, and came to the gates thereof. Then said 
Judith afar off to the watchmen at the gate, Open, open now the gate: 
God, even our God, is with us, to shew his power yet in Jerusalem, and 
his forces against the enemy, as he hath even done this day. 

Now when the men of her city heard her voice, they made haste to 
go down to the gate of their city, and they called the elders of the city. 
And then they ran all together, both small and great, for it was strange 
unto them that she was come. So they opened the gate, and received 
them, and made a fire for a light, and stood round about them. 

Then she said to them with a loud voice, Praise, praise God, I say, 
for he hath not taken away his mercy from the house of Israel, but hath 
destroyed our enemies by mine hands this night. So she took the head 
out of the bag, and shewed it, and said unto them, Behold the head of 
Holofernes, the chief captain of the army of Assur, and behold the 
canopy, wherein he did lie in his drunkenness; and the Lord hath smitten 
him by the hand of a woman. As the Lord liveth, who hath kept me in 


527 


my way that I went, my countenance hath deceived him to his destruc- 
tion, and yet hath he not committed sin with me, to defile and shame me. 

Then all the people were wonderfully astonished, and bowed them- 
selves, and worshipped God, and said with one accord, Blessed be thou, 
O our God, which hast this day brought to nought the enemies of thy 
people. 

Then said Ozias unto her, 0 daughter, blessed art thou of the most 
high God above all the women upon the earth; and blessed be the Lord 
God, which hath created the heavens and the earth, which hath directed 
thee to the cutting off of the head of the chief of our enemies. For this 
thy confidence shall not depart from the heart of men, which remember 
the power of God for ever. And God turn these things to thee for a 
perpetual praise, to visit thee in good things, because thou hast not 
spared thy life for the affliction of our nation, but hast revenged our 
ruin, walking a straight way before our God. And all the people said, 
So be it, so be it. 


The Song of the Three Children 

(Verses 26 to 68) 

But the angel of the Lord came down into the oven together with 
Azarias and his fellows, and smote the flame of the fire out of the oven; 
and made the midst of the furnace as it had been a moist whistling 
wind, so that the fire touched them not at all, neither hurt nor troubled 
them. 

Then the three, as out of one mouth, praised, glorified, and blessed, 
God in the furnace, saying, 

Blessed art thou, O Lord God of our fathers: 

And to be praised and exalted above all for ever. 

And blessed is thy glorious and holy name: 

And to be praised and exalted above all for ever. 

Blessed art thou in the temple of thine holy glory: 

And to be praised and glorified above all for ever. 

Blessed art thou that beholdest the depths, 

And sittest upon the cherubims: 

And to be praised and exalted above all for ever. 

Blessed art thou on the glorious throne of thy kingdom: 

And to be praised and glorified above all for ever. 


528 


Blessed art thou in the firmament of heaven: 

And above all to be praised and glorified for ever. 


0 all ye works of the lord, bless ye the Lord: 

Praise and exalt him above all for ever. 

O ye heavens, bless be the Lord: 

Praise and exalt him above all for ever. 

O ye angels of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: 

Praise and exalt him above all for ever. 

O all ye waters that be above the heaven, bless ye the Lord 
Praise and exalt him above all for ever. 

0 all ye powers of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: 

Praise and exalt him above all for ever. 

O ye sun and moon, bless ye the Lord: 

Praise and exalt him above all for ever. 

0 ye stars of heaven, bless ye the Lord: 

Praise and exalt him above all for ever. 

0 every shower and dew, bless ye the Lord: 

Praise and exalt him above all for ever. 

O all ye winds, bless ye the Lord: 

Praise and exalt him above all for ever. 

O ye fire and heat, bless ye the Lord: 

Praise and exalt him above all for ever. 

O ye winter and summer, bless ye the Lord: 

Praise and exalt him above all for ever. 

O ye dews and storms of snow, bless ye the Lord: 

Praise and exalt him above all for ever. 

O ye nights and days, bless ye the Lord: 

Praise and exalt him above all for ever. 

0 ye light and darkness, bless ye the Lord: 

Praise and exalt him above all for ever. 

0 ye ice and cold, bless ye the Lord: 

Praise and exalt him above all for ever. 

O ye frost and snow, bless ye the Lord: 

Praise and exalt him above all for ever. 

O ye lightning and clouds, bless ye the Lord: 

Praise and exalt him above all for ever. 

O let the earth bless the Lord: 

Praise and exalt him above all for ever. 


529 


0 ye mountains and little hills, bless ye the Lord: 

Praise and exalt him above all for ever. 

0 all ye things that grow on the earth, bless ye the Lord: 

Praise and exalt him above all for ever. 

0 ye fountains, bless ye the Lord: 

Praise and exalt him above all for ever. 

O ye seas and rivers, bless ye the Lord: 

Praise and exalt him above all for ever. 

O ye whales, and all that move in the waters, bless ye the Lord: 
Praise and exalt him above all for ever. 

O all ye fowls of the air, bless ye the Lord: 

Praise and exalt him above all for ever. 

O all ye beasts and cattle, bless ye the Lord: 

Praise and exalt him above all for ever. 


O ye children of men, bless ye the Lord: 

Praise and exalt him above all for ever. 

O Israel, bless ye the Lord: 

Praise and exalt him above all for ever. 

O ye priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: 

Praise and exalt him above all for ever. 

0 ye servants of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: 

Praise and exalt him above all for ever. 

O ye spirits and souls of the righteous, bless ye the Lord: 

Praise and exalt him above all for ever. 

O ye holy and humble men of heart, bless ye the Lord: 

Praise and exalt him above all for ever. 

O Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, bless ye the Lord: 

Praise and exalt him above all for ever. 

For he hath delivered us from hell, 

And saved us from the hand of death, 

And delivered us out of the midst of the furnace and burning flame 
Even out of the midst of the fire hath he delivered us. 


O give thanks unto the Lord, because he is gracious: 
For his mercy endureth for ever. 

0 all ye that worship the Lord, bless the God of Gods, 
Praise him, and give him thanks: 

For his mercy endureth for ever. 


530 


APPENDIX A 

THE NAMES AND ORDER 

of all the 

Books of the Old and New Testament, 
and of The Apocrypha 

v?ith the 

NUMBER OF THEIR CHAPTERS 

The Books of the Old Testament 


Chapters 


Chapters 


Chapters 

Genesis 

. . 50 

II. Chronicles 

36 

Daniel 

12 

Exodus 

. . 40 

Ezra 


Hosea 

14 

Leviticus 

. . 27 

Nehemiah . . . . 

13 

Joel 


Numbers 

. . 36 

Esther 

10 

Amos 

9 

Deuteronomy 

. . 34 

Job 

42 

Obadiah 

1 

Joshua 

. . 24 

Psalms 

150 

Jonah 

4 

Judges 

. . 21 

Proverbs 

31 

Micah 

7 

Ruth 

. . 4 

Ecclesiastes .. 

12 

Nahum 


I. Samuel 

. . 31 

The Song of Solomon 8 

Habakkuk . . 

•y 

II. Samuel 

. . 24 

Isaiah 

66 

Zephaniah ... 

3 

T. "Rings 

. . 22 

Jeremiah 

52 

Haggai 

2 

TT Rings 

. . 25 

Lamentations 

5 

Zechariah . . . 

14 

I. Chronicles 

. . 29 

Ezekiel 

48 

Malachi 

4 

The 

Books of The 

New Testament 


Chapters 


Chapters 


Chapters 

Matthew 

. . 28 

Ephesians .... 

6 

Epistle of James.... 5 

Mark 

. . 16 

Philippians ... 

4 

I. Peter 

5 

Tiiikp 

. . 24 

Colossians . . . 

4 

II. Peter . . . . 

3 

John 

. . 21 

I. Thessalonians .... 5 

I. John 

5 

T 1 Vi p A pf s 

. . 28 

TT. Thessalonians ... 3 

II. John 

1 

Epistle to the 


I. Timothy . . . 

6 

III. John . . . 

1 

Romans 

. . 16 

II. Timothy . . 

4 

Jude 

1 

T O'/vri n t h i a n s 

. . 16 

Titus 

3 

Revelation . . 

22 

II. Corinthians . . . 

. . 13 

Philemon 

1 



Galatians 

. . 6 

Hebrews 

13 



The Books Called Apocrypha 


Chapters 


Chapters 


Chapters 

I. Esdras 

. . 9 

Baruch, with the 

The Idol Bel, and 

II. Esdras 

. . 16 

Epistle o f 

Jere- 

Dragon . . . 


Tobit 

. . 14 

miah 


The Prayer 

of Ma- 


14 

Song of the 

Three 

nasses . . . . 


The Rest of Esther. 6 

Children . . . 


I. Maccabees 

16 

Wisdom 

. . 19 

The Story of 

Sus- 

II. Maccabees 

15 

Ecclesiasticus . . . . 

. . 15 

anna 





531 


APPENDIX B 


Approximate Chronological Outline 

History 

15th century B. C. Migration o f 
Hebrews from 
to Arabia, settle- 

ment in Egypt, 

11th century B. C. Exodus from 
Egypt, and En- 
tra nee into 
Canaan 

1190 B. C.— 1040 B. C. Period of 
the Judges 

1040 B. C.— 937 B. C. United 
Kingdom— Saul, David 
and Solomon 

937 B. C.— 586 B. C. Divided 
Kingdom — Judah, 937 
B. C.-586 B. C. Israel, 
937 B. C.-722 B. C. 

586 B.C.— 536 B. C. Period of 
the Exile 

606 B. C. — 597 B. C.— 586 B. C.- 

538 B. C. — 536 B. C. Significant 
dates i n connection 
with the Exile 

538 B. C. — 332 B. C. Persian 
Period 

520 B. C. — 516 B. C. Rebuilding 
of the temple 

332 B.C.— 168 B. C. Period of 
the Greek Rule 

168 B. C. — 63 B. C. Maccabean 
Age 

63 B. C. — 135 A. D. Roman 
Age 

4 B.C.— 30 A. D. Life of 
Jesus 

70 A. D. — Destruction of Jeru- 
salem 

132 B. C. — 135 A. D. War against 
Rome 


of Biblical History and Literature 

Literature 

Beginnings of Hebrew Literature 
— legends, stories, songs, incor- 
porated later into the Scriptures 


Stories of Samuel, Saul and David 


850 B. C.— 750 B. C. Judean and 
Ephraimitic History, 
later incorporated in- 
to the Scriptures 

750 B. C — 1 700 B. C. Eighth Cen- 
tury Prophets (Amos, 
Hosea, Isaiah, Micah) 

686 B. C. — 621 B. C. Deuteronomy 
written and adopted 
as Law 

626 B.C.— 570 B. C. Jeremiah 
and Ezekiel; Judges 
Samuel, Kings 

550 B. C. — 400 B. C. The Second 
Isaiah, Psalms, Prov- 
erbs, Job 

Hexateuch compiled 
by end of the period 

500 B. C.— 400 B. C. Ruth, Ec- 
clesiastes 

400 B.C.— 300 B. C. Esther, 
Chronicles, Ezra, Ne- 
hemiah, Song of 
Songs 

200 B. C. — Daniel, Books of the 
Apocrypha 

50 A. D.— 100 A. D. Books of 
the New Testament 


532 


APPENDIX C 

The King James Version and the Douai (Roman Catholic) 
Version of the Bible Compared 


King James 

PSALM 23 

The Lord is my shepherd; I 
shall not want. 

He maketh me to lie down in 
green pastures: he leadeth me be- 
side the still waters. 

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth 
me in the paths of righteousness 
for his name’s sake. 

Yea, though I walk through the 
valley of the shadow of death, I 
will fear no evil: for thou art with 
me; thy rod and thy staff they 
comfort me. 

Thou preparest a table before 
me in the presence of mine ene- 
mies: thou anointest my head with 
oil; my cup runneth over. 

Surely goodness and mercy shall 
follow me all the days of my life: 
and I will dwell in the house of 
the Lord for ever. 


JOB 14 

Man that is born of a woman is 
of few days, and full of trouble. 

He cometh forth like a flower, 
and is cut down: he fleeth also as 
a shadow, and continueth not. 

And dost thou open thine eyes 


Douai 

PSALM 22 

The Lord ruleth me: and I shall 
want nothing. He hath set me in 
a place of pasture. 

He hath brought me up, on the 
water of refreshment: he hath 
converted my soul. 

He hath led me on the paths of 
justice, for his own name’s sake. 

For though I should walk in the 
midst of the shadow of death, I 
will fear no evils, for thou art 
with me. 

Thy rod and thy staff, they have 
comforted me. 

Thou hast prepared a table be- 
fore me, against them that afflict 
me. 

Thou hast anointed my head 
with oil; and my chalice which 
inebriateth me, how goodly is it! 

And thy mercy will follow me 
all the days of my life. 

And that I may dwell in the 
house of the Lord unto length of 
days. 

JOB 14 

Man born of a woman, living for 
a short time, is filled with many 
miseries. 

Who cometh forth like a flower, 
and is destroyed, and fleeth as a 


533 


King James 

upon such an one, and bringest me 
into judgment with thee? 

Who can bring a clean thing out 
of an unclean? not one. 

Seeing his days are determined, 
the number of his months are with 
thee, thou hast appointed his 
bounds that he cannot pass; 

Turn from him, that he may 
rest, till he shall accomplish, as an 
hireling, his day. 

For there is hope of a tree, if 
it be cut down, that it will sprout 
again, and that the tender branch 
thereof will not cease. 

Though the root thereof wax old 
in the earth, and the stick thereof 
die in the ground; 

Yet through the scent of water 
it will bud, and bring forth boughs 
like a plant. 

But man dieth, and wasteth 
away: yea, man giveth up the 
ghost, and where is he? 

As the waters fail from the sea, 
and the flood decayeth and drieth 
up; 

So man lieth down, and riseth 
not: till the heavens be no more, 
they shall not awake, nor be raised 
out of their sleep. 

Oh that thou wouldest hide me 
in the grave, that thou wouldest 
keep me secret, until thy wrath be 
past, that thou wouldest appoint 
me a set time, and remember me! 

If a man die, shall he live 
again? all the days of my ap- 
pointed time will I wait, till my 
change come. 

Thou shalt call, and I will an- 


Douai 

shadow, and never continueth in 
the same state. 

And dost thou think it meet to 
open thy eyes upon such an one, 
and to bring him into judgment 
with thee? 

Who can make him clean that 
is conceived of unclean seed? is it 
not thou who only art? 

The days of man are short, and 
the number of his months is with 
thee: thou hast appointed his 
bounds which cannot be passed. 

Depart a little from him, that he 
may rest, until his wished for day 
come, as that of the hireling. 

A tree hath hope: if it be cut, it 
groweth green again, and the 
boughs thereof sprout. 

If its root be old in the earth, 
and its stock be dead in the dust: 

At the scent of water, it shall 
spring, and bring forth leaves, as 
when it was first planted. 

But man when he shall be dead, 
and stripped and consumed, I pray 
you where is he? 

As if the waters should depart 
out of the sea, and an emptied 
river should be dried up: 

So man when he is fallen asleep 
shall not rise again; till the heav- 
ens be broken, he shall not awake, 
nor rise up out of his sleep. 

Who will grant me this, that 
thou mayst protect me in hell, and 
hide me till thy wrath pass, and 
appoint me a time when thou wilt 
remember me? 

Shall man that is dead, thinkest 
thou, live again? all the days in 


534 


King James 

swer thee: thou wilt have a de- 
sire to the work of thine hands. 

For now thou numberest my 
steps: dost thou not watch over 
my sin? 

My transgression is sealed up in 
a bag, and thou sewest up mine 
iniquity. 

And surely the mountain falling 
cometh to nought, and the rock is 
removed out of his place. 

The waters wear the stones: 
thou washest away the things 
which grow out of the dust of the 
earth ; and thou destroyest the 
hope of man. 

Thou prevailest for ever against 
him, and he passeth : thou changest 
his countenance, and sendest him 
away. 

His sons come to honour, and he 
knoweth it not; and they are 
brought low, but he perceiveth it 
not of them. 

But his flesh upon him shall 
have pain, and his soul within him 
shall mourn. 


Douai 

which I am now in warfare, I ex- 
pect until my change come. 

Thou shalt call me, and I will 
answer thee: to the work of thy 
hands thou shalt reach out thy 
right hand. 

Thou indeed hast numbered my 
steps, but spare my sins. 

Thou hast sealed up my of- 
fences as it were in a bag, but 
hast cured my iniquity. 

A mountain falling cometh to 
nought, and a rock is removed out 
of its place. 

Waters wear away the stones, 
and with inundation the ground by 
little and little is washed away: so 
in like manner thou shalt destroy 
man. 

Thou hast strengthened him for 
a little while, that he may pass 
away for ever: thou shalt change 
his face, and shalt send him away. 

Whether his children come to 
honour or dishonour, he shall not 
understand. 

But yet his flesh, while he shall 
live, shall have pain, and his soul 
shall mourn over him. 




APPENDIX D 

A Specimen of die First Issue of die 1611 Version 

The Wooing of Rebekah 

( Genesis , Chapter XXIV) 


A Nd Abraham was olde and well stricken in age: And the LORD 
had blessed Abraham in all things. 

2 And Abraham said vnto his eldest seruant of his house, that ruled 
ouer all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand vnder my thigh: 

3 And I will make thee sweare by the LORD the God of heauen, and 
the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife vnto my sonne 
of the daughters of the Canaanites amongst whom I dwell. 

4 But thou shalt go vnto my countrey, and to my kinred, and take a 
wife vnto my sonne Isaac. 

5 And the seruant said vnto him, Peraduenture the woman will not 
bee willing to follow mee vnto this land: must I needes bring thy sonne 
againe, vnto the land from whence thou earnest? 

6 And Abraham said vnto him, Beware thou, that thou bring not my 
sonne thither againe. 

7 The LORD God of heauen which tooke mee from my fathers house, 
and from the land of my kindred, and which spake vnto mee, and that 
sware vnto me, saying, Vnto thy seed will I giue this land, he shall 
send his Angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife vnto my sonne 
from thence. 

8 And if the woman wil not be willing to follow thee, then thou 
shalt bee cleare from this my othe: onely bring not my sonne thither 
againe. 

9 And the seruant put his hand vnder the thigh of Abraham his 
master, and sware to him concerning that matter. 

10 If And the seruant tooke ten camels, of the camels of his master, 
and departed, (for all the goods of his master were in his hand) and 


536 


he arose and went to Mesopotamia, vnto the citie of Nahor. 

11 And he made his camels to kneele downe without the citie, by a 
well of water, at the time of the euening, euen the time that women goe 
out to draw water. 

12 And he said, 0 LORD, God of my master Abraham, I pray thee 
send me good speed this day, and shew kindnesse vnto my master 
Abraham. 

13 Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of 
the men of the Citie come out to draw water: 

14 And let it come to passe, that the damsell to whom I shall say, 
Let downe thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drinke, and she shall 
say, Drinke, and I will giue thy camels drinke also; let the same be 
shee that thou hast appointed for thy seruant Isaac: and thereby shall 
I know that thou hast shewed kindnesse vnto my master. 

15 And it came to passe before hee had done speaking, that behold, 
Rebekah came out, who was borne to Bethuel, sonne of Milcah, the wife 
of Nahor Abrahams brother, with her pitcher vpon her shoulder. 

16 And the damsell was very faire to looke vpon, a virgine, neither 
had any man knowen her; and shee went downe to the wel, and filled 
her pitcher, and came vp. 

17 And the seruant ranne to meete her, and said, Let mee (I pray 
thee) drinke a little water of thy pitcher. 

18 And she said, Drinke, my lord: and she hasted, and let downe her 
pitcher vpon her hand, and gaue him drinke. 

19 And when shee had done giuing him drinke, she said, I will draw 
water for thy camels also, vntill they haue done drinking. 

20 And she hasted and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and 
ranne againe vnto the well to draw water , and drew for all his camels. 

21 And the man wondering at her, helde his peace, to wit, whether 
the LORD had made his iourney prosperous, or not. 

22 And it came to passe as the camels had done drinking, that the 
man tooke a golden eare-ring, of halfe a shekel weight, & two bracelets 
for her handes, of ten shekels weight of gold, 

23 And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell mee, I pray thee: is 
there roome in thy fathers house for vs to lodge in? 

24 And she said vnto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the sonne 
of Milcah, which she bare vnto Nahor: 

537 


25 She said moreouer vnto him, We haue both straw & prouender 
ynough, and roome to lodge in. 

26 And the man bowed downe his head, and worshipped the LORD. 

27 And hee saide, Blessed bee the LORD God of my master Abra- 
ham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy, and his 
trueth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my mas- 
ters brethren. 

28 And the damsell ranne, and told them of her mothers house, these 
things. 

29 And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and 
Laban ranne out vnto the man, vnto the well. 

30 And it came to passe when he saw the eare-ring, and bracelets 
vpon his sisters hands, and when hee heard the wordes of Rebekah his 
sister, saying, Thus spake the man vnto me, that he came vnto the man; 
and behold, hee stood by the camels, at the well. 

31 And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD, wherefore stand- 
est thou without? for I haue prepared the house, and roome for the 
camels. 

32 U And the man came into the house: and he vngirded his camels, 
and gaue straw and prouender for the camels, and water to wash his 
feet, and the mens feet that were with him. 

33 And there was set meat before him to eate: but he said, I will not 
eate, vntill I haue tolde mine errand. And hee said, Speake on. 

34 And he said, I am Abrahams seruant. 

35 And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly, and hee is become 
great: and hee hath giuen him flocks, and heards, and siluer, and gold, 
and men seruants, and mayd seruants, and camels, and asses. 

36 And Sarah my masters wife bare a sonne to my master when shee 
was old: and vnto him hath hee giuen all that he hath. 

37 And my master made me sweare, saying, Thou shalt not take a 
wife to my sonne, of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I 
dwell : 

38 But thou shalt goe vnto my fathers house, and to my kinred, and 
take a wife vnto my sonne. 

39 And I said vnto my master, Peraduenture the woman will not fol- 
lowe me. 

40 And hee saide vnto me, The LORD, before whom I walke, will send 

538 


his Angel with thee, and prosper thy way : and thou shalt take a wife for 
my sonne, of my kinred, and of my fathers house. 

41 Then shalt thou bee cleare from this my oath, when thou commest 
to my kinred, and if they giue not thee one , thou shalt be cleare from 
my oath. 

42 And I came this day vnto the well, and said, 0 LORD God of my 
master Abraham, if now thou doe prosper my way, which I goe: 

43 Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to passe, 
that when the virgine commeth foorth to draw water, and I say to her, 
Giue me, I pray thee, a litle water of thy pitcher to drinke; 

44 And she say to me, Both drinke thou, and I will also draw for 
thy camels: let the same be the woman, whom the LORD hath appointed 
out for my masters sonne. 

45 And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah 
came forth, with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went downe vnto 
the well, and drew water: and I said vnto her, Let me drinke, I pray 
thee. 

46 And she made haste, & let downe her pitcher from her shoulder, 
and saide, Drinke, and I will giue thy camels drinke also: so I dranke, 
and she made the camels drinke also. 

47 And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? and she 
said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahors sonne, whom Milcah bare vnto 
him: and I put the earering vpon her face, and the bracelets vpon her 
hands. 

48 And I bowed downe my head, and worshipped the LORD, and 
blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, which had led mee in 
the right way to take my masters brothers daughter vnto his sonne. 

49 And now if you wil deale kindly and truely with my master, tell 
me : and if not, tell me, that I may turne to the right hand, or to the left. 

50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth 
from the LORD: we cannot speake vnto thee bad or good. 

51 Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and goe, and let her be 
thy masters sonnes wife, as the LORD hath spoken. 

52 And it came to passe, that when Abrahams seruant heard their 
words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himselfe to the earth. 

53 And the seruant brought forth iewels of siluer, and iewels of gold, 
and raiment, and gaue them to Rebekah: He gaue also to her brother, 
and to her mother precious things. 

539 


54 And they did eate and drinke, he and the men that were with 
him, and taried all night, and they rose vp in the morning, and he 
said, Send me away vnto my master. 

55 And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsell abide with 
vs a few dayes, at the least ten ; after that, she shall goe. 

56 And he said vnto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath 
prospered my way: send me away, that I may goe to my master. 

57 And they said, Wee will call the Damsell, and enquire at her mouth. 

58 And they called Rebekah, and said vnto her, Wilt thou go with 
this man? and she said, I will goe. 

59 And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and 
Abrahams seruant, and his men. 

60 And they blessed Rebekah, and said vnto her. Thou art our sister, 
bee thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possesse 
the gate of those which hate them. 

61 ]f And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, & they rode vpon the 
camels, and followed the man: and the seruant tooke Rebekah, and went 
his way. 

62 And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahai-roi, for he dwelt 
in the South countrey. 

63 And Isaac went out, to meditate in the field, at the euentide: and 
hee lift vp his eyes, and saw, and behold, the camels were comming. 

64 And Rebekah lift vp her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted 
off the camel. 

65 For she had said vnto the seruant, What man is this that walketh 
in the field to meet vs? and the seruant had said, It is my master: 
therefore shee tooke a vaile and couered her selfe. 

66 And the seruant tolde Isaac all things that he had done. 

67 And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarahs tent, and tooke 
Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loued her: and Isaac was 
comforted after his mothers death. 




APPENDIX E 

A BRIEF BIBLIOGRAPHY 

on 

THE LITERARY STUDY OF THE BIBLE 

Introductory Note 

The following brief list of books on the general subject of The 
Literary Study of the Bible may be of some value to the average reader 
of the Bible and of special assistance to teachers of English in schools 
and colleges which are either introducing or laying additional stress on 
courses in the study of the Bible as literature. Covering as it does but 
sixty-seven titles, the list is, of course, to be regarded as a selected one, 
to a certain extent eclectic, and obviously elastic either way according 
to the particular interests or needs of the teacher or student or reader. 


Versions and Editions 

The Holy Scriptures According to the Mcissoretic Text. Translated into 
English. The Jewish Publication Society of America 
The Old Testament in Greek. Ed. H. B. Swete. Three volumes. Cam- 
bridge University Press 

The New Testament in the Original Greek. B. F. Westcott and F. J. A. 
Hort. Macmillan 

Biblia Sacra Vulgatae Editionis. Ed. P. Michael Hetzenauer. Fr. 
Pustet & Co 

The Holy Bible. Douay Version. JoTin Murphy Company 

The Authorized Version of the English Bible. 1611. Ed. W. A. Wright. 

Five volumes. Cambridge University Press 
The Holy Bible. The Oxford Self-Pronouncing Bible. Oxford Uni- 
versity Press 

The Holy Bible. The Revised Version. Oxford University Press 


541 


The Holy Bible. The American Revised Version. Nelson 
The New Century Bible. General editor: Walter F. Adeney. Thirty- 
four volumes. T. C. and E. C. Jack 
The Modern Reader’s Bible. Ed. Richard G. Moulton. Macmillan 
The Literary Man’s Bible. A Selection of Passages from the Old Tes- 
ment. Arranged by W. L. Courtney. Crowell 
The Literary Man’s New Testament. Arranged by W. L. Courtney. 
Dutton 

The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament. Ed. R. H. 
Charles. Two volumes. Cambridge University Press 


Reference 

Analytical Concordance to the Bible. Ed. Robert Young. Funk & 
Wagnalls. 1912 

Dictionary of the Bible. Ed. James Hastings. Scribner. 1909 
Encyclopedia Biblica. Ed. T. K. Cheyne and J. S. Black. Macmillan 
Encyclopaedia Britannica. Article on the Bible 

The One-Volume Bible Commentary. Ed. J. R. Dummelow. Macmillan 


General 

Adeney, Walter F. A Biblical Introduction. New Testament. Me- 
thuen. 1911 

Barton, George A. Archaeology and the Bible. American Sunday 
School Union. 1916 

Bennett, W. H. A Biblical Introduction. Old Testament. Methuen. 
1911 

Breasted, J. H. History of the Ancient Egyptians. Scribner. 1908 
Briggs, C. A. General Introduction to the Study of Holy ScHptures. 
Scribner. 1899 

Creelman, Harlan. An Introduction to the Old Testament. Macmillan. 
1917 

Driver, S. R. An Introduction to the Literature of the Old Testament 
Scribner. 1914 

Hoare, H. W. The Evolution of the English Bible. Murray, 1902 


542 


Jastrow, Morris, Jr. Hebrew and Babylonian Traditions. Scribner. 
1914 

Kent, C. F. A History of the Hebrew People. The United Kingdom. 
Scribner. 1910 

Kent, C. F. A History of the Hebrew People. The Divided Kingdom. 
Scribner. 1908 

Kent, C. F. A History of the Jewish People. Babylonian , Persian and 
Greek Periods. Scribner. 1899 

Kenyon, F. G. Our Bible and the Ancient Manuscripts. Nelson. 1896. 
Lewis, F. G. How the Bible Grew. University of Chicago Press. 1919. 
McComb, Samuel. The Making of the English Bible. Moffatt, Yard. 
1909 

Moffatt, James. An Introduction to the Literature of the New Testa- 
ment. Scribner. 1917 

Moore, G. M. The Literature of the Old Testament. Holt. 1913 
Pollard, A. W. Records of the English Bible. Oxford University Press. 
1911 

Riggs, J. S. History of the Jewish People. Maccabean and Roman 
Periods. Scribner. 1900 

Sanders, F. K. and Fowler, H. T. Outlines for the Study of Biblical 
History and Literature. Scribner. 1909 
Sunderland, J. T. The Origin and Character of the Bible. American 
Unitarian Association. 1908 

Westcott, B. F. A General View of the History of the English Bible. 
Macmillan. 1916 


The Bible as Literature 

Auerbach, Joseph S. The Bible and Modern Life. Harper. 1919 
Baldwin, C. S. The English Bible as a Guide to Writing. Macmillan. 
1917 

Chapman, E. M. English Literature in Account with Religion. 1800- 
1900. Houghton. 1910 

Cook, A. S. The Authorized Version and Its Influence. Putnam. 1910. 
Cook, A. S. The Bible and English Prose Style. Heath. 1906 


543 


Curry, S. S. Vocal and Literary Interpretation of the Bible. Mac- 
millan. 1909 

Eckman, George P. The Literary Primacy of the Bible. The Metho- 
dist Book Concern. 1915 

Gardiner, J. H. The Bible as English Literature. Scribner. 1907 
Genung, J. F. A Guidebook to the Biblical Literature. Ginn. 1919 
Hodges, George. How to Know the Bible. Bobbs-Merrill. 1918 

Jastrow, Morris, Jr. A Gentle Cynic. (A Study of Ecclesiastes.) Lip- 
pincott. 1919 

Jastrow, Morris, Jr. The Book of Job. Lippincott. 1920 

Fallen, H. M. The Book of Job as a Greek Tragedy Restored. Moffatt, 
Yard. 1918 

McAfee, C. B. The Greatest English Classic. Harper. 1912 
Moulton, R. G. and Others. The Bible as Literature. Crowell. 1896 
Moulton, R. G. The Bible at a Single View. Macmillan. 1918 
Moulton, R. G. The Literary Study of the Bible. Heath. 1900 

Moulton, R. G. A Short Introduction to the Literature of the Bible. 
Heath. 1901 

Penniman, Josiah H. A Book About the English Bible. Macmillan. 
1920 

Phelps, William Lyon. Reading the Bible. Macmillan. 1919 
Prothero, Rowland E. The Psalms in Human Life. Dutton. 1903 
Robertson, Eric. The Human Bible. Nisbet and Co. 1920 
Sprague, Homer B. The Book of Job. Sherman French. 1913 

Strong, A. H. The Great Poets and Their Theology. Griffith & Row- 
land Press. 1897 

Stalker, James. The Beauty of the Bible. James Clarke & Co. 1918 

Traill, W. The Literary Characteristics and Achievements of the Bible. 
Poe & Hitchcock. 1863 

Wood, I. F. and Grant, Elihu. The Bible as Literature. The Abingdon 
Press. 1914 

Work, E. W. The Bible in English Literature. Revell. 1917 


544 


INDEX 

(Proper Names and Subjects) 


Page 

Aaron 72 

Aaron and the Golden Calf 91 
Abed-nego 363 

Abel 26 

Abraham and Isaac 35 

Adam 23 

Agrippa 490 

Ahasuerus 161 

Amos 375 

Apostles, Acts of 488 

Ark, The 29 

Asher 67 

Athaliah 159 

Baal, Prophets of 151 

Babel, Tower of 34 

Babylon, Judgment of 345 

Balaam 95 

Balak 95 

Bathsheba 141 

Belshazzar 369 

Benjamin 51, 68 

Bildad 181 

Birthright Sold by Esau 38 

Boaz 127 

Bondage of the Israelites 71 

Cain and Abel 26 

Charity, Praise of 498 

Chronicles, The Second Book of 159 
Commandments, The 90 

Confusion of Tongues 34 

Creation, Story of 20 


Page 

Corinthians, First Epistle 498 
of Paul to the 

Crucifixion, The 478 

Dan 67 

Daniel, Book of 359 

Daniel in the Den of Lions 372 

David and Goliath 134 

David and Uriah 141 

David before Saul 133 

David, Lament of 140 

Deborah, Song of 111 

Delilah 121 

Deuteronomy 104 

Disciples, Choosing of 429 

Dreams of Pharaoh’s Butler 

and Baker 45 

Ecclesiastes 302 

Elihu 230 

Elijah 149 

Elijah and the Chariot of Fire 154 
Elijah and the Prophets 
of Baal 151 

Elijah and the Ravens 150 

Eliphaz 181 

Elisabeth 413 

Elisha 154 

Endor, Witch of 137 

Ephraim 64 

Esau 36 

Esther, Story of 161 

Eve 25 


545 


Page 

Ezekiel 357 

Exodus, Book of 
Exodus from Egypt 
Fall of Man 
Festus 

Fishes, Miraculous Draft of 
Flood, The 
Gabriel 
Gad 
Genesis 

God’s Covenant with Noah 
Goliath 
Ham 
Haman 

Historical Books of the 
Old Testament 
Holofernes 

Horses of the Apocalypse, 

The Four 
Isaac 

Isaiah, Book of 
Issachar 
Jabel 
Jacob 

Jacob Blesses His Sons 
Jacob’s Deception of Isaac 
Jacob’s Journey 
Jacob’s Ladder 
Jael and Sisera 
Japheth 

Jephthah’s Rash Vow 
Jeremiah 
Jericho, Siege of 
Jerusalem, The New 
Jesus, Life of 
Joab 

Job, Story of 
John, Gospel According to 
John the Baptist 
Jonah 
Joseph 


Page 

Joseph and his Brethren 41 

Joseph, of the House of David 414 
Joshua 109 

Jotham’s Parable 114 

Jubal 27 

Judah 66 

Judges 111 

Judith 519 

Kings, The First Book of 145 

Kings, The Second Book of 154 

Lazarus and the Rich Man 459 

Lamech 27 

Legion of Devils 436 

Levi 66 

Luke, Gospel According to 412 

Magnificat, The 415 

Manasseh 64 

Mark, Gospel According to 409 

Mary, Mother of Jesus 414 

Mary and Martha 444 

Martha 444 

Matthew, Gospel According to 399 
Meschach 363 

Miriam 90 

Mordecai 163 

Moses 71 

Moses, Song of 88, 104 

Naaman the Leper 155 

Naomi 125 

Naphtali 67 

Nathan’s Parable 141 

Nebuchadrezzar 353 

Nebuchadnezzar 359 

Noah 28 

Numbers 95 

Nunc Dimittis 419 

Orpah 126 

Passover, The 82 

Paul before Festus and 

Agrippa 489 

Paul, Preaching of 488 


71 
85 
24 
489 
426 
28 
313 
67 
17 
32 
134 
28 
165 

17 
523 

511 
35, 536 
311 

67 

27 

36 

65 

38 

39 

40 
113 

28 
116 
343 
109 
513 
412 
141 
177 
483 
416 
393 

41, 67 

546 


Pharaoh’s Dream 
Pharisee and Publican 
Pharisees Reproved 
Philemon 
Plagues, The 
Prodigal Son, Parable of 
Proverbs, The 
Psalms, Book of 
Potiphar 
Potiphar’s Wife 
Potter’s Wheel, The 
Publican and Pharisee 
Pur 

Rainbow, The 
Rebekah 

Rebekah, Wooing of 
Red Sea, Passage of 
Resurrection, The 
Reuben 
Revelation 

Romans, Epistle of Paul to the 
Ruth, Book of 
Samaritan, Parable 
of the Good 
Samson 

Samson and Delilah 
Samson and the Philistines 
Samson’s Riddle 
Samuel 

Samuel, The First Book of 
Samuel, The Second Book of 


Saul 133 

Saul and the Witch of Endor 137 
Seals, the Six 511 

Sermon on the Mount 399 

Shadrach 363 

Shem 28 

Simeon 66, 419 

Sisera 113 

Solomon 145 

Solomon and the Queen 
of Sheba 148 

Solomon, Prayer of 145 

Solomon, Song of 307 

Sower, Parable of the 435 

Talents, Parable of the 407 

Ten Pieces of Money, 

Parable of the 465 

Three Children, Song of the 528 

Timothy, The Second 

Epistle of Paul to 503 

Tubal-Cain 27 

Uriah 141 

Valley of Dry Bones, The 357 

Vashti 162 

Virgins, The Wise and Foolish 406 
Wise and Foolish Virgins, The 406 
Witch of Endor, The 137 

Zaccheus 464 

Zacharias 413 

Zebulun 67 

Zophar 181 


47 

462 

428 

508 

72 

457 

288 

251 

44 

44 

343 

462 

175 

33 

36 

536 

87 

479 

43 

510 

494 

125 

444 

117 

121 

119 

118 

137 

133 

140 









































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































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